Turismo Grecia cresce ancora, previsti oltre 30 milioni arrivi in 2017

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ATENE - La crisi continua a mordere in Grecia, ma c'è un settore che continua a portare vitale ossigeno all'economia ellenica: è il turismo, che nel 2017, secondo le previsioni dell'Organizzazione nazionale del turismo greco (Gnto), supererà la soglia dei 30 milioni di visitatori del 2016.

Un successo testimoniato anche dai numeri della principale compagnia nazionale, Aegean, che nel 2016 ha aumentato il traffico passeggeri del 7% rispetto al 2015 (12,5 milioni di passeggeri, con l'aumento sostenuto soprattutto da clienti internazionali), e ha previsioni positive per i prossimi mesi.

Secondo il segretario generale del Gnto, Dimitris Tryfonopoulos, intervenuto al forum economico di Delfi, "il modello mare e sole è la base, ma c'è anche un forte sviluppo della navigazione da diporto, del turismo culturale e di quello legato alla gastronomia".

Un caso particolare è quello di Atene, dove la crisi economica continua a sentirsi più che altrove, ma dove comunque la città sta facendo un grande sforzo - e notevoli investimenti - per rinnovare la sua offerta. E' il caso di molti locali che aprono al centro ed altrove, spesso per opera di giovani imprenditori che rivedono in senso contemporaneo la gastronomia ellenica, o la tradizione dei caffè ateniesi. La capitale è anche il luogo dove l'offerta alberghiera sta crescendo, in numero e qualità. Di "nuova era" del settore parla George Spyropoulos, il direttore generale dell'hotel Electra Metropolis, il nuovissimo arrivato della catena Electra, che si unisce agli altri due alberghi a cinque stelle che la stessa proprietà ha intorno alla piazza Syntagma. Ha aperto un anno fa nell'edificio che ospitava il ministero dell'Istruzione, un palazzo che sotto ai suoi pilastri portanti ha la piccola chiesa di Agia Dinami, in fase anch'essa di restauro. E nelle fondamenta, visibili dai clienti, c'è anche un frammento del muro di Temistocle, che univa l'antica Atene al Pireo, proteggendo la via dai nemici.

"Atene è la città perfetta per i city break - spiega Spryropoulos dal roof garden che guarda direttamente al Partenone - E noi cerchiamo di fare un'offerta moderna per il turismo in Grecia, che si rivolga ad una clientela di alto livello. I britannici sono al momento i nostri primi ospiti, ma puntiamo molto sugli italiani, che sono al sesto posto come nazionalità, ma con i quali abbiamo molte cose in comune, prima di tutte l'approccio umano. La recessione? C'è ancora, e per questo noi tutti abbiamo modificato le nostre priorità; ma la cosa più importante, per il turismo, è creare sinergie, che servono a raggiungere gli obiettivi e superare gli ostacoli".

Il cuore della città, oggi, sorprende chi si aspetta un'Atene depressa. Molti negozi e locali sono ancora chiusi, ma molti altri sono rinati, con una folla impressionante che li frequenta. Ci vorrà del tempo, ma la rigenerazione è cominciata.

il miglior modo per viaggiare in Grecia e di fare tutte le prenotazioni riguardando 
biglietti e alberghi QUI

source ; (ANSAmed).

The World’s Oldest Living Olive Tree Is on Crete (video)

Olive oil museum, Ano Vouves (Courtesy of The Tiny Book).

In the village of Ano Vouves of Kissamos in Chania, Crete one will find the oldest olive tree in the world, as it is 3000 years old, a fact generally acknowledged by the international scientific community.

The Ancient Tree of Vouves (Courtesy of The Tiny Book).

The Vouves ancient tree is more than 3000 years old, has a trunk circumference of 12.5 meters, a diameter of 4.6 meters and belongs to the local variety of tsounati grafted at a height of 3 meters on a wild olive tree. Because of the grafting, its trunk is so beautifully shaped by nature that it resembles a sculpture. In 1990, according to a unanimous decision of the prefecture of Chania, the Vouves Olive Tree was declared a Natural Monument of great importance.

Olive oil, Vouves (Courtesy of The Tiny Book).

The fruits of the evergreen olive tree make the best olive oil in the world, making the area the cradle of olive cultivation in Crete. The trunk of the tree is hollow as there is no heartwood, so the olive is renewed outward and the heartwood gradually rots. Since the olive tree is constantly renewing its wood, it is essentially a symbol of immortality.

The Museum of Olive oil (Courtesy of The Tiny Book).

Thousands of tourists visit the stunning tree every summer to marvel at it and learn its history. Mostly they are impressed by its enormous shape and the imposing volume of the trunk, but also by the fact that it remains alive and fruitful for 3000 years without pause.

The location of the olive tree, as well as the whole hill that hosts some villages, has thousands of olive trees and the villages produce the best olive oil in the world.

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Gavdos, an Island at the End of the Continent

The southernmost post of Europe (Source Milad A380 – Own work, CC BY 3.0)

Described by Homer as the place where Odysseus shipwrecked on his way back from Troy, Gavdos is a remote island located 45 km (28 miles) from the southern coast of Crete. Closer to Africa than to Athens.

It was on Gavdos that the hero was rescued by Calypso, the island’s goddess, who held him prisoner for seven years.

The island of Gavdos, satellite view (Source Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center. “The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth.”).

Gavdos lies in the Libyan Sea and it is known for being the southernmost portion of land in Europe. The island is 9 km long and 4.5 km wide. There is no fresh water and the locals collect rainwater to drink. Likewise, the energy on the island is obtained by generators, often shut at night.

Worth mentioning is the capital of Gavdos; Kastri, the port;  Karabe, and a few more villages, Ambelos and Vatsiana.

The island at the end of the continent. (Source Artemis Katsadoura CC BY-SA 4.0 from Wikimedia Commons)

Archeological findings brought light to the fact that the island has been inhabited for over 3,000 years before the beginning of our era.

Over the years, Gavdos received different names, it was called Cavdos, Clavdos, and Clauda, and the Venetians used to call it Gotzo. Under the Venetian rule, the island was abandoned, as pirates used to seek refuge there. In 1539, Barbarosa used it as a hideaway.

Roman and Byzantine traces are still visible in some areas of the island, especially in the north.

The Landscape of Gavdos

Landscape over Potamos beach.

The island is abundant in cedar trees as well as pine trees, plenty of sand dunes, and shrubs. Rainfall is scarce all over the year but it still manages to maintain a rather green scenario.

A few streams and rivers can be found on Gavdos during the colder months since due to its hot weather, their courses are normally dry in Summer when the average temperatures easily reach 40 °C (104 °F).

Agios Ioannis (Source Artemis Katsadoura CC BY-SA 4.0 from Wikimedia Commons).

The highest point on the island is 345 meters above the sea and there are far less than 100 inhabitants living permanently. However, and despite the small population, the island still has a post office, a doctor, and a policeman!

The wild landscape, accompanied by the occasional goat, give the island a mysterious atmosphere and a kind of lost paradise. thanks to its heavenly beaches. Among the most popular ones are Sarakinikos, Agios Ioannis, and Korfos. The most famous beach of Gavdos which lies in the south is Tripiti.

Tripiti (Source Artemis Katsadoura CC BY-SA 4.0 from Wikimedia Commons).

Tripiti is famous for its bizarre rock formations which sometimes form arcades in the sea. The name Tripiti comes from the Greek tripa (hole), name as such due to the three arches diving into the sea.

A chair has been place on top of a rock formation there, indicating that Tripiti is the southern most point of Europe.

Potamos is a stunning beach with reddish sand, locate in the north-west part of  Gavdos. Visitors can reach Potamos by boat or by foot.

Agios Ioannis, chosen as the second most beautiful beach in the world by the Travel Channel in 2007, is a solitary spot. There are no places to stay in the area, however there are impressive caves and it is often favorite spot for the naturist tourist.

The solitary beaches of Gavdos.

How to reach Gavdos

There is a ferry service almost every day, depending on the weather. A boat covers the routeChora Sfakion – Gavdos in about two and half hours. There are also boat services departing from Paleochora and Sougia, in the south of Crete. In the winter there is only one ferry a week, which is often delayed due to bad weather.
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Greece Gives Red-Carpet Treatment to US Travel Agents

Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura gives an address to visiting US travel agents. Source: http://news.travelling.gr

Dozens of U.S. tour operators are in Greece as Athens hosts a major American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA).

Greece wants to tap into the lucrative U.S. tourist market and the ASTA Destination EXPO 2018 is expected to make a substantial contribution to drawing American visitors and investment in the coming years.

Keynote speakers from both Greece and the U.S. spoke at the event’s opening ceremony which was held on Sunday at the Herodes Atticus Odeon.

Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura presented Greece’s advantages that make it an ideal holiday destination.

The Greek minister noted that Greece has all the advantages to play a leading role in tourism and underlined the increase in U.S. tourist arrivals.

Specifically, Kountoura said a million Americans visited Greece last year and she estimated that this number will increase this summer.

US ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt

U.S. Ambassador to Greece Geoffrey Pyatt said American tourists were particularly interested in traveling to Greece with a focus on culture. He also said that there are still many destinations in the country, beyond Mykonos and Santorini, that remain unknown to them, but are of great interest.

He stressed that the most fascinating feature of Greece is the combination of its natural landscapes, people, gastronomy and its culture and that it is also one of the safest destinations in the world.

Our goal, he said, is to increase investment and tourism from the United States as relations between Greece and the U.S. are at their best. In addition, he said, the United States will be the Honored Country at the Thessaloniki International Fair 2018.

The ASTA Destination Expo is an international destination event taking place annually in a different location every year. The event is dedicated to training of outbound U.S. travel agents to become destination specialists.

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Top Things to Do on Greece’s Poros Island

View of Poros (CC0 Creative Commons).

Just a few hundred meters from the Peloponnese, two islands connected by a rather modern road give life to Poros. The southern island is called Spharia and is much smaller than the northern Kalaureia. Spharia, however, is the place where most locals live.

The northern island of Kalaureia, on the contrary, boasts a natural and relaxed atmosphere, mostly rural and with just a few inhabitants.

This small island of the Saronic Gulf is a quiet place, ideal for holidays with the family and one of Athenians’ favorite destinations for a weekend away.

Aerial view of Poros and its short distance from the Peloponnese.

Askeli is the most popular beach on the island; it is well organized and has clear waters. The so-called Love Bay is also another favorite place for visitors due to the characteristic pine trees that are to be found in the area.

The rather large beach of Megalo Neorio is a comfortable sandy beach with greenish water and a center for water sports. Hotels and tavernas populate the surrounding area, making it a great destination for a day at the beach.

The town of Poros is a vibrant city with interesting Neoclassical architecture. The most remarkable building is the Clock Tower, dating back to 1927. The tower stands at the highest point of the city and very much resembles a lighthouse.

The Clock Tower in the distance.

The Archaeological Museum of Poros showcases the most important moments of the history of the island. It also has exhibits from the Temple of Poseidon located in Kalavureia. Unfortunately, there is not much to be seen on the site, so a visit to the museum is quite a good idea for those interested in the past of Poros.

On the west coast of Poros, the Holy Monastery of Zoodochu Pigis offers stunning views of the sea. The old monastery is an integral part of the story of the island. It was founded by Ioakovos the II, Archbishop of Athens, after a healing miracle he experienced after drinking water from a spring in the area. The monastery also home to church with impressive paintings and a magnificent wooden icon from Cappadocia (Turkey).

Yachts in Poros, a popular destination for water sports.

It is possible to reach Poros from Piraeus in about an hour, but also from the nearby town of Galatas, in the Peloponnese, about 400 meters from the island. This little town, ideal for a day visit, is surrounded by an ancient lemon forest, known as lemondassos, home to over 30,000 fragrant old trees and traditional water mills.

Greek reporter.

Athens to Host Basketball Champions League Final Four

The city of Athens has been awarded the hosting of the 2018 Basketball Champions League Final Four.

Four teams, representing four different countries, will be participating in the pinnacle event of Basketball Champions League’s second season which will be played over the first weekend of May in the Greek capital. The games will be played in the OAKA Olympic Indoor Hall (18’000 seating capacity), regular home court of AEK.

The Greek host, currently in the 3rd position of the Greek League, is having an impressive year, recently winning the Greek Cup against Olympiacos, finishing the Regular Season of the Basketball Champions League at the 3rd position of Group C, and then eliminating the Czech champions, CEZ Nymburk, and the French runners-up, SIG Strasbourg, in the Round of 16 and the Quarter-Finals.

The other three qualified clubs complete a very competitive Final Four line-up with AS
Monaco, currently in 1st place in the French League (tied with SIG Strasbourg) and recent Leaders Cup winners, MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg, currently 3rd of the German BBL, and UCAM Murcia, currently in the 10th position of the Spanish ACB.

The Semi-Finals will be played on 4 May, with the Third-Place Game and Final scheduled for 6 May. The draw determining the pairings will be held next week, on Thursday 12 April in Athens.

Aegean announced the largest private investment in Greece

AEGEAN announces order of up to 42 new aircraft of the Α320neo Family, valued at 5 billion dollars at list prices

proceeding with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airbus, for the order of up to 42 new generation aircraft of the A320neo family.

The investment is valued at 5 billion USD at list prices, and it is the largest private investment in Greece. The new aircraft facilitate the offer of new services to passengers, as well as increased range capabilities for expansion to new destinations and markets. At the same time, new fleet significantly enhances the company’s competitiveness through substantial operating cost savings.

The agreement includes the firm order of 30 aircraft; comprising of two types of the Airbus A320neo Family (Α320neo & A321neo), with the option for 12 additional aircraft. The order includes at least 10 aircraft of the largest type of A321neo, with an option to increase this number by further conversions from A320neo to A321neo.

Aircraft of the Α320neo Family are equipped with new generation engines and Sharklets, delivering 15% savings in fuel consumption, reduced carbon emissions and noise footprint, and increased range capabilities of additional 600 to 1,500 km (equivalent to 1 to 2 hours of extra flight hours). The aircraft have a choice of two new-generation engines from either Pratt & Whitney (PW1100G-JM), or CFM International (LEAP-1A). The company has initiated negotiations with both engine manufacturers and is expected to make an engine decision selection by July 2018.

The completion and signing of the final purchase agreement with Airbus, expected in June 2018, will allow AEGEAN to continue its successful expansion strategy, by increasing its capacity as well as renewing its existing fleet.

It should be noted, AEGEAN in 2017 operated 46 jets from the A320 family, as well as 12 turboprop aircraft. This agreement is part of the company’s overall fleet expansion and renewal program, expected to take place between 2020 – 2025.

Vice Chairman of AEGEAN, Mr. Eftichios Vassilakis, commented on the agreement: “Today marks the beginning of new period of growth and development for AEGEAN. With the investment in new generation Airbus A320neo aircraft, we strengthen our competitiveness and provide a platform that empowers our people to further improve service to our passengers as well the, important, first impression we provide to visitors of our country.”

Mr. Eric Schulz, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer, stated the following:

“We are delighted that AEGEAN, an all Airbus customer, has chosen the bestselling single Aisle Family, becoming a new operator of the type. The commonality these aircraft offer along with lowest operating costs, longest range and a more spacious cabin make the A320neo Family the best choice for growing airlines such as AEGEAN.”

Mr. Dimitrios Gerogiannis, AEGEAN’s CEO, commented: “We have worked diligently over more than 12 months, across different Teams within AEGEAN to structure as well as to evaluate the proposals of the two candidate manufacturers, before selecting Airbus. Our goal was to optimize support conditions but also to set a new starting point for the design of the aircraft’s future exploitation. The technology in these aircraft is excellent. But this is available to many operators. It only becomes a competitive advantage thanks to our people, their skills, cooperation and ethos which should allow us to differentiate ourselves and excel once more.”

Santorini Dominates Greek Travel Survey

Oia, Santorini (Courtesy of The Tiny Book).

The Spring tourist season is well underway and a new survey reveals that visitor-favorite Santorini is in as much demand as ever.

Travel firm Trivago has released new research showing that out of visitors’ top ten Greek destinations, five are on the romantic island alone.

Trivago’s data, coupled with internet searches from the first week of March, showed Athens was also in the top ten, with people seeking to spend an average of €109 ($133) in a four-day trip in the Greek capital.

On Santorini, potential tourists also searched for stays in Fira and Oia.

Mykonos – also known as a party destination – was also in the top ten list as was Imerovigli and Rhodes town.

On the mainland, as well as Athens, Thessaloniki was a draw for foreign tourists seeking to stay on average for 4.2 nights at €97 euros.

Among European visitors, Brits, Germans, Italians and French were the most numerous customers.

The data show Greek people continued to favor traditional destinations, spending on average €86 a night.

Among the top choices were Athens, Thessaloniki and Nafplio. Among the islands Corfu remained a popular Easter destination.

Earlier this year, German media reported Greece has been experiencing a tourism boom for successive years, with one record year for tourist arrivals succeeding another.

Suddeutsche Zeitung noted that 24 million tourists visited Greece in the first 10 months of 2016, while the figure for the “small country that is constantly teetering on the brink” in 2018 was forecast to reach 30 million.

Modern Critics Slam ‘Inhumane’ Greek Easter Lamb Feast

Painting by Josefa de Ayala – The Sacrificial Lamb

For Greeks, the roasted lamb, slowly cooking on the spit on Easter Sunday, is not only a mouth-watering delicacy but it also part of a centuries-old tradition.

The event brings together family and friends outdoors, and gives all the opportunity to drink, sing and dance, culminating in the ultimate feast – the classic lamb on the spit, which has much symbolism in the Greek world.

However, in recent years many Greeks have criticized the tradition, claiming that it is barbaric.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of lambs are butchered throughout the country. In many cases and especially in villages the slaughter takes place in the open, often in front of children. Humane procedures are not always followed.

Origins

The origin of eating lamb on Easter comes from the Jewish Passover and is associated with the exodus from Egypt.

Before the Jews set out on the great exodus, God, through Moses, told them to gather in small groups and each family to sacrifice a lamb.

With the animal’s blood they were to paint their doorposts so they were not exterminated by an angel of God, who on that night would bring pestilence to the firstborn of each family who did not mark the entrance to their house with the lamb’s blood.

That night, each family offered as a sacrifice to God a lamb for the salvation of all people. They ate the lamb, without breaking its bones, together with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. With the lamb’s blood, they stained their doors.

Later, Christians adopted the sacrificial lamb as John the Baptist likened Jesus Christ to the lamb of God who will take the brunt of the sins of the world with his sacrifice.

Criticism

The “barbaric custom” of roasting a lamb on the spit at Easter should stop, famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis has recently said.

Speaking out against animal abuse he wrote: “Easter is coming again. The days of the massacre of innocent animals are approaching for the sake of a barbaric [feast] that ought to have vanished long ago.”

In recent years, animal welfare groups are staging protests in Athens and other Greek cities against the tradition.

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Top Reasons to Visit Greece During Spring

Flowers in Santorini (Source Pixabay CC0 Creative Commons – Maria Michelle).

If you are fortunate enough to visit Greece during Spring, many of the most popular parts of the country such as the islands of the Aegean and the Ionian, the Peloponnese, and even the island of Crete, will be a relaxing oasis of beautiful landscapes with no crowds to spoil your stay.

The main reason to choose Greece for a holiday during Spring is that it is a rather warm period, offering visitors the most idyllic conditions to enjoy sunbathing or even a dive or two.

The landscape during Spring in Greece(Source Pixabay CC0 Creative Commons).

Spring will also be the best season to enjoy a rather exclusive use of some of Greece’s best beaches. It will also be possible to visit different archaeological sites without the burden of the hot midsummer temperatures, museums, and less busy souvenir shopping.

Walking around colorful alleys turns into a pleasant experience thanks to flowers and bushes blooming everywhere. While dining in preferred restaurants will imply no rush and pleasing small talk with locals.

Mainland Greece (Source Pixabay CC0 Creative Commons – Dana Tentis).

Compared to the harsh Summer landscape, the Cycladic islands, as well as the islands of the Dodecanese, turn into a greenish tapestry dotted with herbs and wildflowers. On Crete, hiking season sets in.

Spring is also a good season for those interested in river sports. Several local mountaineering clubs organize kayaking, rafting, and other activities.

Rhodes during SpringLandscape during Spring in Greece (Source Pixabay CC0 Creative Commons).

The best regions on mainland Greece for river sports are Arcadia in the Peloponnese and Zagoria in Epirus. Exploring the unique landscapes of Pelion is also among the most favorite activities of the season.