Why visit Athens today?
Stefanos Mavrocordatos - Those familiar with Athens before the Olympic Games will find a brand new city that's just as lively as ever, but more serene. As for the others, they will simply be discovering a beautiful city whose cultural riches are known to all.
How is the business tourism market doing?
S. M. - In 2006, the country hosted some 630 congresses and incentive operations, an increase of 4 %. Athens remains the leading destination in this field, but Crete, Rhodes and Thessaloniki are also doing well.
How is the country managing the post-Olympic Games period?
S. M. - The considerable work undertaken to organise the Olympic Games has profoundly changed the face of Athens and the surrounding region. Its hotel infrastructure no longer has anything to envy the major European cities, and immense progress has been made in terms of urban planning: creation of new roads, development of pedestrian zones, overhaul of public transport, etc. Now it's a question of making these investments profitable and developing them by accompanying them with a bold tourism policy.
What are the broad outlines of this policy?
S. M. - As defined by our Minister for Tourism Development, Fani Palli-Petralia, the objective is as follows: within ten years, to place Greece in fifth place among the most visited destinations. We currently rank fifteenth. The strategy we've adopted will therefore be rolled out across the board. It involves extending the range of leisure activities on offer, including the creation of around thirty golf courses. It also involves renewing the fleet of ships serving the islands, and building marinas to accommodate yachtsmen.
Sea and sun remain the trump cards?
S. M. - It's our heritage, and there's no question of denying it. However, a study by the World Tourism Organisation shows that the country only makes the most of 15 % of its tourism potential. So we need to diversify: Greece has around twenty ski resorts and its largest ski area is barely two hours from Athens! We're also going to focus on developing rural tourism by providing financial assistance to set up holiday cottages. Finally, everything is being done to encourage visitors to buy a holiday home in Greece, which for senior citizens could become their main residence. Another priority is to boost business tourism, with the creation of two conference centres in Athens and Thessaloniki.
