Author: Easytraveller

One billion tourists worldwide in 2012

17/01/2012 Easytraveller 2 Comments Travel News

World Tourism Organization After an increase by 4% in 2011, according to the latest UNWTO World Tourism Barometer international tourist arrivals are on track to reach later this year.

“International tourism hit new records in 2011 despite the challenging conditions,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “For a sector directly responsible for 5% of the world’s GDP, 6% of total exports and employing one out of every 12 people in advanced and emerging economies alike these results are encouraging, coming as they do at a time in which we urgently need levers to stimulate growth and job creation,” he added.

Despite persistent economic uncertainty, tourist arrivals to Europe reached 503 million in 2011, accounting for 28 million of the 41 million additional international arrivals recorded worldwide. Central and Eastern Europe and Southern Mediterranean destinations (+8% each) experienced the best results. Although part of the growth in Southern Mediterranean Europe resulted from a shift in traffic away from the Middle East and North Africa, destinations in the Mediterranean also profited from improved outbound flows from markets such as Scandinavia, Germany and the Russian Federation.

“Travel facilitation is closely interlinked with tourism development and can be key in boosting demand. This area is of particular relevance in a moment in which governments are looking to stimulate economic growth but cannot make major use of fiscal incentives or public investment,” said Mr. Rifai.

Posted by the Easytraveller Team

 

16.5 million tourists in Greece for the year 2011

28/12/2011 Easytraveller 1 Comment Travel News

Corfu Kerkyra Island GreeceJust before the end of 2011, arrivals of tourists are expected to reach 16.5 million and tourism revenues go up more than 10% over last year, equivalent to a 1% increase in GDP.

For the next years the role of tourism is expected to be a catalyst for leaving the country from crisis. According to a recent study by the McKinsey Company on behalf of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises and the Union of Greek Banks, 220,000 new jobs can be created by the increase in incoming tourists in the most dynamic sector of the Greek economy.

By 2021 the contribution of tourism to the GDP of Greece is estimated to exceed 1 / 5 which means that the direct gross value added of tourism (direct and indirect contribution) can increase by 18 billion and reach 50 billion euro. Again, according to the study data, these numbers represent 44% of the number of new jobs over the next decade, but 36% of the estimated total development of the country.

In 2010, directly and indirectly employment in the tourism industry in Greece was 746,000, according to the WTCC (World Travel & Tourism Council) which is equivalent to 17.9% of total employment in the domestic economy, while during the last decade tourism contribute consistently above 16% of the GDP and covers 1 / 3 of the trade deficit.

The Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises stresses that Greece can serve 20 million arrivals by 2014, ie 20% more than the year’s record high of 16.5 million arrivals, with what this means for increasing employment.

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New CEO of Louis Cruises

22/12/2011 Easytraveller 1 Comment Travel News

Kyriakos Anastadiadis Louis Cruises Louis Cruises announces that as of January 16th 2012, Mr. Kyriakos (Kerry) Anastassiadis is appointed to the position of CEO of the company.

Mr. Anastassiadis was raised in South Africa where he studied Commerce at the University of Witwatersrand and obtained a postgraduate title in Market Analysis and Advertising. He is distinguished for his rich and multifaceted experience since he has worked as General Manager, CEO and President at large multinational corporations such as Coca Cola, Procter & Gamble, Polaroid and others, in a number of countries including Italy, China, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates and Greece.  With Greek and English being his mother tongues, Mr. Anastassiadis is also fluent in French, Italian and Portuguese.

Commenting on this development, Mr. Costakis Loizou, Executive Chairman of Louis Group, made the following statement: “I warmly welcome Mr. Anastassiadis to Louis Cruises and our Group in general and express my confidence that his valuable experiences and the knowledge he acquired on an international level at leading multinational corporations will play a constructive role in Louis Cruises’ further enhancement and development. I wish the new CEO of Louis Cruises every success in the most important role he is undertaking”.

Referring to his new role, Mr. Anastassiadis underlined that: “It is with pleasure that I undertake the position of CEO at Louis Cruises, a subsidiary of a group with a 76 year long history in tourism and cruising in the Eastern Mediterranean. Louis Cruises is currently renewing its fleet and operations and I am confident that in cooperation with the rest of the management team we will set sail at full speed ahead towards new success”.

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In Athens the headquarters office of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races

14/11/2011 Easytraveller No Comments Travel News

The headqw=qarters of AIMSThe Minister of Culture and Tourism of Greece, Pavlos Yeroulanos, and the President of AIMS, Paco Borao, opened a permanent headquarters for AIMS in offices within the Olympic Complex in Athens at an address bearing the name of the first Olympic Marathon winner, as it is located in Spyros Louis Avenue.

Remarking on the currently adverse economic conditions in Greece, Paco Borao commented that despite this background:
“The main purpose we are here today is most important for the organizations present here: the promotion of running in general and especially the marathon race. I would like to thank the hundreds of AIMS members and the millions of runners around the world that I am proud to represent here today; our sponsors for the trust they have in the running movement and our Association as the world entity representing them; the Greek Ministry of Culture and Tourism for giving us this great opportunity to establish our headquarters here in Athens – where better than where both the legend and the first marathon race originated?; and to the people at the Hellenic Athletic Federation and the Athens Classic Marathon organising committee who have done so much to realise this achievement.
“This alliance will help to bring tourists to Athens, and to the whole of Greece. Not any tourists but sporting visitors who deeply believe in such values as goodwill, friendship and solidarity with the intention of visiting the birthplace of the event that has had such an impact on their lives – the Marathon. We, AIMS, are here because we also believe in these values and we believe in the capacity of the country to continue to fulfil them. We will do our utmost to make this agreement a success for us both.”

Posted by the Easytraveller Team

 

Posted by the Easytraveller Team

Heraklion Crete to welcome more cruise ships

02/11/2011 Easytraveller 2 Comments Travel News


Heraklion Crete Island Greece Heraklion port authorities welcomed the arrival of new cruise ships and is encouraging more cruise companies to include Heraklion in Crete island in their itineraries.
Very close to many archaeological sites gives you the opportunity to be an eye witness of places where the western civilization started a few thousand years ago.
The Heraklion is a modern vibrant city with nice architecture and a very interesting museum with excellent ceramic paintings.
Enjoy the Greek and Mediterranean food in the restaurants and taverns of Heraklion and taste the local wine and “raki” the local spirit.
This very informative video is made by the port authorities of Heraklion.

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29th Athens Classic Marathon

27/10/2011 Easytraveller No Comments Travel News

Athens Classic Marathon The interest shown by runners all around the world for the Athens Classic Marathon 2011 has reached its peak. This year’s Athens Classic Marathon event will be equivalent to last year’s success, not only regarding number of participation but also regarding the quality reached. According to the registrations progress so far, SEGAS and the Athens Classic Marathon Organizing Committee cannot but express their satisfaction from the fact that Greek and foreign runners are participating in the Race.
In a very difficult period for Greece, SEGAS, a sports federation, decidedt to show to the world that Greece may be going through difficult times but does not lose the values that diachronically carry through its history and its culture!
After concerted efforts of the President of SEGAS, UNESCO, the largest international supporter of the United Nations, is now a supporter of the Athens Classic Marathon.
In the agreement signed in Paris by UNESCO and its 193 member countries, UNESCO decided to support the efforts of our country, recognizing the Athens Classic Marathon not only as a premier sporting event but as a worldwide historical and cultural event, a bridge that connects the past with the present.
The participation of 20,000 runners from 96 different countries, the interest of top celebrities and international media puts Greece on the spot of the world, giving to our country, global visibility and revenues exceeding 20,000,000 Euros based on last year’s data.
This year’s Athens Classic Marathon becomes an international event. Following last year’s anniversary of the 2,500 years from the Battle of Marathon, SEGAS decided to utilize and extend this legacy, linking this year’s event with values like social cohesion, the power of human will and solidarity. These values that emerge through the Athens Classic Marathon are denatured into an act through SEGAS’ extensive social responsibility program that has been developed by the Federation over the last four(4)years.
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Greek cuisine on board Lufthansa flights

18/10/2011 Easytraveller No Comments Travel News

Greek menu on Lufthansa flightsPassengers travelling from Athens to Germany with Lufthansa will experience the aroma of Greek cuisine both in Business and Economy class.

Departing from Athens international airport Lufthansa’s passengers will receive a delicate «taste of Greece», as part of the airline’s commitment to promote local products and flavours and add a local flair to its meals.
“The delicious recipes promote Greek flavours and local dishes. They are a delight not only for the palate, but also for the eye”, said Paulo Yoshikawa, Lufthansa’s Director for Greece and Cyprus, not able to hide his enthusiasm. “Breakfast, lunch or dinner are all made from fresh ingredients and come with plenty of vegetables and herbs”, he added
Characteristic recipes with Greek flair are “fish a-la-Spetsiota” – a delicious seafood dish from the island of Spetses, tagliatelle with seafood (kalamari, prawn, octopus) in tomato & ouzo sauce or spinach “sfougatto” (quiche) with potato croquette grilled tomato wedge & village sausage.
Innovative and modern, always aiming for a superior travel experience, Lufthansa is among the few European airlines that offers hot menus from the classical Greek cuisine in Economy Class, too.
“Greek recipes are inspiring, full of freshness and health. The ingredients, the flavours, the combination of herbs and materials offer a tasteful, healthy and light meal for our air travelling”, said Mrs. Brenner, Area Manager Product Design and Caterer Management Europe and North Africa.
Through sense, natural tastes and aromas, Lufthansa passengers will virtually “travel” to the islands or the small mountainous villages of Greece. Food will be a feast to the eyes and the mouth and leave the travellers with the best last impression of the country.
Posted by the Easytraveller Team


HostGator promo

Greek President of the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports

16/10/2011 Easytraveller No Comments Travel News

Associaton of Mediterranean Cruise PortsMr. Stavros Hatzakos elected  as President of the Union of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MedCruise), a particular success for the Greek port industry.
Mr. Hatzakos has been a founding member, representative of OLP SA (Piraeus port), both in the ESPO (European Sea Ports Association) and in MedCruise, and has served in many positions of responsibility in OLP.
As stated by the President and CEO of OLP SA Mr. George Anomeritis “We have called 2011 ” cruise year” and put  cruise activity at the forefront of our activities. With new infrastructures and quality services we have converted  Piraeus to the largest cruise port in the Mediterranean. Of course we have much more to do and we will do. We believe in Shipping, Tourism and Culture and the future of marine tourism. During last year we  returned in the “port diplomacy” on the ESPO and MedCruise, we became members of SETE, participated actively in all forums, organized successfully in June in Greece  the Annual General Meeting of MedCruise..
The decision of the management of OLP SA to propose to Mr. Stavros Hatzakis as president vindicates our initiatives and his long experience and history in OLP SA
Thanks are due to everyone who supported the candidacy from the world of cruise. In tough times we prove that together we can. ”

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Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens International Airport

14/10/2011 Easytraveller No Comments Travel News

Museum of Cycladic Art Athens GreeceA short photographic presentation of the Permanent Collection of the Museum of Cycladic Art in Athens International Airport from 12 October till 06 January 2012. In this presentation visitors will have the opportunity to experience the Cycladic civilization, one of the oldest civilizations of Europe organized communities, through images and texts. Visitors will learn more about the Cycladic figurines, as well as clay, stone, and metal vessels and objects of the era.

The collection of the Museum of Cycladic Art, one of the largest collections of its kind worldwide, including more than 400 objects from clay, stone, marble and metal, all periods of the Cycladic civilization.

You can learn more by visiting the web site of the museum