Visit Greece: Live your honeymoon holidays in Eastern Halkidiki.

Start from the mountainous area, visiting Arnea, a famous traditional settlement- the most beautiful in Halkidiki! Wander in its alleys, visit the folklore museums, walk in the mountain paths, dream under the waterfalls, cycle in wonderful routes, shop organic honey to “sweeten and honey” your first days of your common life, taste the famous toulouba, taste organic wine of local production, see how the organic feta cheese and yogurt is made and try the most delicious dishes you have ever tasted!

Visit to ancient Stageira

…where thousands years ago, Aristoteles, the teacher of Great Alexander, was born. Walk on the hill between the Aegean blue and the verdant green Aristotelian Mountain. Wander between the findings of the ancient city and view the most beautiful beaches of the area – the color of the crystal waters, depending on the light of the day. Feel the ancient Greek influence and swim under the ancient city, to one of the most beautiful and pristine gulfs. Taste amazing seafood and ouzo appetizers. For dessert eat sweet loukoumades at the central square of the village.

The round cruise of Mount Athos

See a unique spectacle in the world: the monasteries of the west side of the Holy Community, which compose a byzantine scenery of real splendor. Visit the land borders of Mount Athos and the Zigou Monastery, the unique athonite monastery visitable also by women.

Ammouliani

If you haven’t chosen to stay to Ammouliani, the unique island of Central Macedonia, then you have to visit it definitely: length of just 6km, surrounded by sandy beaches, all famous for the sea water’s clarity!

The clarity of the waters is not certified only by the photos or the Blue Flags. This is being proved by the visitors’ arrival. Every summer 600 permanent inhabitants welcome 6.000 visitors so as to offer them home, island hospitality and taking care of them like being their relatives!

Swim definitely to “Alikes”, the most photographed and beloved beach, enjoy the serenity of “Karagatsia”, offer yourselve the affordable luxury of the daily swim to “Ai Giorgi” and “Megali Ammos”, do the round of the island by renting a boat (no license is required), and indulge in the fishing to the north rocky shores!

To Ammouliani you will find the freshest seafood you have ever tasted! The island possesses a big fishing fleet, which means you find fresh caught seafood- here the fish of yesterday is not fresh!!! Enjoy wonderful fish appetizers on the idyllic small port viewing Athos and ask persistently for the fish balls- the chef’s specialty!

Swim αt Komitsa

…and gain the absolute life summer experience. In the Gulf, the golden beach just a few meters away from the borders of Athonite State, will make you forgetting time, wishing you could stay there forever.

…and to the endless beaches of Ierissos and Pirgadikia

…there that the blue of the sea and the sky become one! Lunch or dine, trying delicious taste creations, made by local sea food, organic meat/ vegetables- by the local farm’s production and fruits from the Aristotelian Mountain.

Walk along the coasts and the historical routes.

You will be surprised by the natural beauty of the landscape which will enhance the romance of your wedding!

Source: visitgreece.gr

Ancient Macedonian Kasta Tomb in Greece's Amphipolis set to open to public after excavation

€2.5 million allocated for Amphipolis Tomb Project

Recently appointed Greek Culture Minister Lydia Koniordou announced that 2.5 million euros have been allotted for restoration works executed at Kasta Hill, the excavation site of the Amphipolis tomb.

During a press conference this week, she clarified that the funds will be made available immediately for the restoration of the site in northeastern Greece, where a huge grave from Alexander the Great’s era was unearthed.

The so-called Kasta Tomb, also known as the Amphipolis Tomb is an ancient Macedonian tomb that was discovered inside the Kasta mound (or Tumulus) near Amphipolis, Central Macedonia, in northern Greece in 2012 and first entered in August 2014.

The first excavations at the mound in 1964 led to exposure of the perimeter wall, and further excavations in the 1970s uncovered many other ancient remains. The recently discovered tomb is dated to the last quarter of the 4th century B.C.

The tumulus is the largest ever discovered in Greece and by comparison dwarfs that of Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, in Vergina. The excavation team, based on findings unearthed at the site, argued that the tomb was a memorial dedicated to the close friend of Alexander the Great, Hephaestion.

It is not yet known who is buried in the tomb, but the initial public speculation that it could be the tomb of Alexander the Great, because of its size and estimated cost of construction, was dismissed by the experts community when commenting on the published findings, as the available historical records mention Alexandria in Egypt as the last known location of Alexander’s body; it has been supported instead, that a likely occupant could be either a wealthy Macedonian noble or a late member of the royal family.

The skeletal remains of five people were unearthed within a corresponding tomb, in the lower levels of the third chamber in November 2014. The dead of the burial are: A woman at the age of 60, two men aged 35–45, a newborn infant and a fifth person represented by minimum fragments.

Further examination is underway with regard to the dating of the skeletal remains, as well as DNA cross examination between the dead of the burial as well as other skeletons from the neighboring tombs in the area.

Monogram of Hephaestion

At a press conference in the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greek archaelogist Katerina Peristeri revealed the existence of three inscriptions apparently linking the tomb to Hephaestion, nobleman, General and close friend of Alexander the Great.

The ancient Greek word “ΠΑΡΕΛΑΒΟΝ” (it means “received”) is written in the inscriptions and next to it the monogram of Hephaestion.According to the Culture Minister, the resources will also be allocated for works to unify the archaeological sites of Amphipolis and create specially designed trails for visitors.

Ms. Koniordou also revealed that other current projects of the Greek Culture Ministry include the upgrade of five more ancient Greek theaters, Ancient Gitana Thesprotia, Ancient Ambracia, Nikopolis, Kassopi and Dodona that are all connected through the Epirus cultural route.

Furthermore, the Culture Ministry plans to hire 1,314 museum and archaeological site guards for the season and they are expected to be in their positions as of early April.

She also noted that the e-ticket access will initially run as a pilot program at the Acropolis, Mycenae, Knossos and Messina sites.

Open to visitors in three years time

Greece's Culture Minister talked to reporters during the presentation of a new temporary exhibition on the Emperor Hadrian at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, noting that the Kasta Tomb in Amphipolis will probably open to visitors in three years time.

"We are pressing on regardless, with the Central Macedonia Regional authority and the cross-border programme Interreg," she said, noting that 1.5 million euros will be given by the regional authority and 1.3 million euros by Interreg.

Asked whether the amounts will suffice, the minister said it would be enough to prepare the site for accepting visitors but "not for everything". "It is a very complex monument, which needs gradual restoration and studies depending on what will arise. It is a project that will be monitored constantly as it is being restored," she noted.

Koniordou explained that sections of the monument appear to have been built at different periods in time, though chiefly during the Hellenistic era in the 4th century B.C. The interesting thing, she added, was that large amounts of building materials scavenged during Roman times have been found in the surrounding area and will be returned to Kasta.

The ministry was also pressing ahead with land expropriations around the Tomb in order to merge the archaeological site and allow further excavation work, she added. Earlier this week, Koniordou had announced the inclusion of work to restore the monument in the new European programmes. Work on the structural restoration of the Tomb will begin in late 2018, early 2019 and be finished within a year. This will be followed by the preservation of all murals, floors and decorative elements and the construction of a shell to protect the monument that is expected to happen in 2021.

tornos news

13 new routes offered at Thessaloniki's Macedonia Airport next summer

Launched by Jet2, Eurowings, Germania, SAS και Wizz Air

Thirteen new routes to and from Thessaloniki’s Macedonia Airport will be launched by five carriers for the summer of 2018, according to Fraport Greece executive Giorgos Vilos.
According to the German-Greek consortium that has assumed the management of 14 airports throughout Greece, the carriers are Jet2, Eurowings, Germania, SAS και Wizz Air.

Source:naftemporiki.gr

Qatar Airways currently operates three flights a day to Athens, offering over 4,000 seats every week

Qatar Airways on Thursday announced the launch of direct flights to the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki, beginning from March 27, 2018. The company will carry out four flights per week with an Airbus A320.
Greece, noted the airline's managing director Akbar al Baker "was always for us a destination with high demand and we are very happy that we will now be able to offer to our passengers direct flights to Thessaloniki, our second stop in Greece."
"The new itinerary will give us the opportunity to visit this charming city four times a week and to offer a trip to and from Greece," he continued.
Qatar Airways currently operates three flights a day to Athens, offering over 4,000 seats every week. With the addition of Thessaloniki, this number will rise ti over 5,000 seats to Greek destinations a week.
Furthermore, the company is expected to add many more new destinations to its international network in 2017 and 2018, including Canberra (Australia), Chiang Mai (Thailand) and Penang (Malaisia).
Read more here.


Source: ANA-MPA

The monasteries of Meteora Greece

The monasteries of Meteora Greece

By Kevin Johnson

What better way to get closer to heaven than to build monasteries on megalithic mountains? Monks from the Greek Orthodox Church constructed their soaring monastery complex, known as Meteora, upon towering sandstone spires (some reaching 1,300 feet above ground) in the heartland of Thessaly, leaving a monumental mark in Greece’s natural history.

These peaks became home to nomadic Greek Orthodox monks beginning in the 11th century, but it wasn’t until the Ottoman conquest of 1453 when religious pressure against orthodox monks forced them to seek refuge on high ground, leading to construction of what would become more than 20 monasteries across the area’s pillars.

The monks were not the only groups motivated by danger to migrate here. This area has recently become home to the endangered Egyptian vulture, and is recognized as a symbol of the Meteora region. Adventurers can test their faith in trekking to the top via a carved stairway and bridges connecting the buildings.

Kevin Johnson is a frequent contributor to National Geographic Travel. Follow his story on Twitter.

Navy official of Iconic Averof battleship rescues tourist who fell in the sea

25-year-old foreign national who fell in the sea in Thessaloniki port on Saturday morning

A Navy official and crew member of Greek cruiser "Georgios Averof" rescued a 25-year-old foreign national who fell in the sea in Thessaloniki port on Saturday morning, the local port authority announced.
According to initial reports, by the time the port authority was alerted to the incident, the Navy officer had already brought the man to Pier A in Thessaloniki. An ambulance was called to transfer the man to hospital where he remains for precautionary reasons.
It is not yet clear how the 25-year-old fell into the sea or how the Navy officer assisted him. The port authority is carrying out an investigation.
Read more here.




Source: ANA-MPA

Ryanair opens new Thessaloniki-Nuremberg route with promo tickets

Carrier offers promo tickets

Ryanair airline will launch two weekly flights between Thessaloniki and Nuremberg as of March 2018, to operate through the summer.
To promote the new route, the company is offering 29,99-euro flights for trips in March. The offer is valid from November 14 (Tuesday) to midnight November 20 (Monday).


Source: ANA-MPA

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TUI: Bookings for Greece on the rise for 2017

Bookings for Greece are up by 23% compared to last year, according to data presented by German tour operators TUI. In more detail, the data showed that bookings to Crete had increased by 14%, Rhodes 26%, Corfu 6%, with Kos recording the highest rise at 41%. The western Peloponnese had a steady increase of 32%, as did Chalkidiki with 44%. So far the islands of Samoas and Lesvos appear to be showing positive signs of recovery, despite a recent slump in bookings due to the refugee crisis. Santorini, Skiathos and Kefalinia also registered positive results, according to the German tour operators, who have expanded their summer offer to Greece by upping their stake in hotels in Crete, Rhodes and Kos by 40%. The group’s CEO, Marek Andryszak confirmed TUI’s png term plans for development in Greece by investing in top amenities in 3 star hotels, as well as new hotels to promote the company’s brand name. The plans will mainly focus on hotels in mainland Greece and both smaller and larger islands. According to TUI the satisfaction of German tourists has increased to 8.7 points out of 10. “The quality of hotels and the level of services in Greece have never been higher as today”, said Mr. Andryszak.

Beautiful Places in Greece You Never Knew Existed! (Photos)

When people come to Greece they tend to stick to the typical tours of the usual places, which means you see amazing ruins, beautiful beaches and taste wonderful food. But what if you knew there was more to Greece than the typical tourist experience? Let’s look at some of the most beautiful places and one in a lifetime experiences in Greece that you never even knew existed!

Take a Dip in These Unique Beaches

There are many beaches around Greece and many holiday makers spend their vacations in Greece doing the typical tour: Go to Athens to see the Acropolis and then head to the islands to hit the beaches. Here are some alternative beaches that offer some very unique elements!

Beach at the Ancient Ruins of Heraion of Perachora, Corinthian Gulf

Lake of Vouliagmeni, Vouliagmeni (Near Athens)

The Ruins of Agios Stefanos Basilica in the Kefalos Bay, Kos

Some Little-Known Places Off the Beaten Path

They are not the typical places that tourists venture out to see, but once there, you will be so glad that you decided to try an alternative pit stop on your Grecian holiday! Check out these photos of a few of the many beautiful unknown treasures in Greece.

The Hidden Villages of Kefalonia

The Enchanting Island of Kastelorizo

The Island for Lovers, Symi

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/04/02/beautiful-places-in-greece-you-never-knew-existed-photos/#sthash.KbLhbLvG.dpuf

Thessaloniki Among the Top 100 Cities in Conference Tourism

Thessaloniki was included on the list of 100 cities where the majority of conferences are held.
According to the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA), Thessaloniki ranked 98th in 2016 with 26 conferences organized in the city. At a European level, it ranked 53rd. Thessaloniki improved its position compared to 2015 when 16 conferences were held.
The president of the Thessaloniki Convention Bureau, Yiannis Aslanis, said that these figures only concern international conferences.

“It is an important success that we will use for the promotion of Thessaloniki abroad. At the same time we will continue to aim at the increase of corporate events not included in the above mentioned list but are considered a significant part of the conference market,” Aslanis noted adding that Thessaloniki has the prospects to further develop conference tourism.
(source: ana-mpa)

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/05/09/thessaloniki-among-the-top-100-cities-in-conference-tourism/#sthash.blPnpKfk.dpuf

TUI Germany: Quality of Hotels and Services Improved in Greece

The quality of the hotels and the services provided by the Greek hotels made an improvement last year, according to research by TUI Germany.

The results were presented by Elke Janssen, head of the TUI Hotel Consulting & Quality Management, during the “4th Meeting for Quality in Tourism” held in Rhodes.
More specifically, on a scale from 0 to 10, the total rating of the Greek hotels was 8.70. The islands of Kos, Rhodes, Crete stand out with 8.84, 8.73 and 8.70 respectively.
The main conclusions were:
– Quality is a major factor for potential customers of hotels and destinations.
– The best results were at the categories “customer service”, “hotel facilities” and “restaurant quality”. The category “room quality” is at low levels, however improved compared to 2015.
– Compared to other EU destinations, Greece is among the best on the “hospitality” category.
– On the other hand there is room for improvement in the field of environmental care as well as cultural infrastructure.
The TUI Germany customers to Greece have the following characteristics:
– 50 pct are couples and 40 pct families with children
– 43 pct are people with university education
– 49 pct are people of higher income
– 1/2 of the customers visiting Greece are 40-49 years old, followed by 50-59 years old (27 pct) and 30-39 years old (20 pct).
– September is the month with the highest number of arrivals, followed by August and June.
(source: ana-mpa)

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/04/06/tui-germany-quality-of-hotels-and-services-improved-in-greece/#sthash.jyx6tmXP.dpuf

Beautiful Places in Greece You Never Knew Existed! (Photos)

When people come to Greece they tend to stick to the typical tours of the usual places, which means you see amazing ruins, beautiful beaches and taste wonderful food. But what if you knew there was more to Greece than the typical tourist experience? Let’s look at some of the most beautiful places and one in a lifetime experiences in Greece that you never even knew existed!

Take a Dip in These Unique Beaches

There are many beaches around Greece and many holiday makers spend their vacations in Greece doing the typical tour: Go to Athens to see the Acropolis and then head to the islands to hit the beaches. Here are some alternative beaches that offer some very unique elements!

Beach at the Ancient Ruins of Heraion of Perachora, Corinthian Gulf

Lake of Vouliagmeni, Vouliagmeni (Near Athens)

The Ruins of Agios Stefanos Basilica in the Kefalos Bay, Kos

Some Little-Known Places Off the Beaten Path

They are not the typical places that tourists venture out to see, but once there, you will be so glad that you decided to try an alternative pit stop on your Grecian holiday! Check out these photos of a few of the many beautiful unknown treasures in Greece.

The Hidden Villages of Kefalonia

The Enchanting Island of Kastelorizo

The Island for Lovers, Symi

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/04/02/beautiful-places-in-greece-you-never-knew-existed-photos/#sthash.GUTm4FAU.dpuf

Tourist Arrivals to Exceed 30 Million in 2017, GNTO Sec Gen Tryfonopoulos Says

More than 30 million tourists are expected to come to Greece in 2017, secretary general of the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) Dimitris Tryfonopoulos said on Sunday at the 2nd Delphi Economic Forum.

The “sun-sea” model is the basis, he said, but there is also the development of yachting, cultural tourism and gastronomy. Tryfonopoulos estimated that the tourism industry can be turned into a Trojan Horse to export quality products.

“Tourism is an important asset of the Greek market; tourism is in our DNA and Greece can be in the top ten tourist destinations by 2020,” he stressed adding that the growth in tourism should not be attributed to widespread instability in neighboring countries.
(source: ana-mpa)

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/03/06/tourist-arrivals-to-exceed-30-million-in-2017-gnto-sec-gen-tryfonopoulos-says/#sthash.NyCA7fgW.dpuf

Travel Massive Thessaloniki promotes Greece's co-capital

Travel Massive is a network of locally organized communities of travel industry insiders who care about making travel better. Through events all around the world travel & tourism companies, travel bloggers, startups, and travel media connect and sharTravel Massive Thessaloniki organized its second event on January 25, 2015 attracting numerous, important tourism insiders.

The central theme was the presentation of Thessaloniki and the wider region of the tourist market of Johannesburg.

To this end, the event was coordinated with Travel Massive Johannesburg, through direct links via skype and cross video presentation of both cities.

Nearby routes

Thessaloniki's presentation as a tourist destination, also included the presentation of two nearby routes to Halkidiki and Mount Olympus.

Johannesburg is a financially strong tourism market and cooperation efforts between the cities shall continue.

Travel Massive Thessaloniki has already planned efforts to attract new markets in order to gain wider international recognition for the Thessaloniki region.

During the next Thessaloniki Travel Massive event, the region's gastronomy will be presented in France, via the Marseille Travel Massive chapter!

About Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki is the second largest city of Greece. The Greeks call it co-capital. Today it counts a population of over 1,000,000 inhabitants and ever since the ancient years it has been a multi - cultural city. The international airport covers in addition to the needs of the city, many other touristic areas of Northern Greece as well. Thessaloniki is the metropolis of northern Greece. In recent years a special tourism product has been developed.

The city provides many excellent hotels and several tourist agencies. It offers rich history, many monuments, traditional neighborhoods, a modern center, a lot of malls and shopping areas, many restaurants and cafes and a vibrant nightlife. It has much to offer to the visitor as year after year the tourist product gets further improved, increasingly becoming a much more attractive tourist destination to visitors from all around the world! 

About Travel Massive

Travel Massive is a network of locally organized communities of travel industry insiders who care about making travel better. Through events all around the world travel & tourism companies, travel bloggers, startups, and travel media connect and share globally. 

On January 25 2016, through the initiative of the Thessaloniki Chapter in Greece, Johannesburg has partnered with Thessaloniki to showcase their respective cities to each other at meet-ups to be held in their respective cities on the same day. 

Members of each chapter are encouraged to film, photograph about their respective cities over the coming months. On the 25th of January each chapter swapped, watched, read and learned about the other city. 

Cruise Holiday Bookings by Greeks Increased 52% in 2016

Internationally speaking, Greeks may not account for much of the traffic during the summer holiday season at sea on cruise ships, but it does appear that they are increasingly opting for a cruise holiday in the Aegean and Mediterranean.

According to ekathimerini.com, for the most part, Greek holiday makers are taking more cruises than in previous times, however, some 91 percent of Greeks prefer to take a cruise in their home waters of the Aegean or Mediterranean.

The publishing by the Greek online newspaper says that in 2016 the amount of Greeks taking cruise holidays increased by 52 percent year-to-date from 2015, reaching a total of 24,180 cruise ship passengers.

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/03/16/cruise-holiday-bookings-by-greeks-increased-52-in-2016/#sthash.xYOkHi2Q.dpuf

Record bookings by Russian tourists to Greece

The data shows a 400% rise in early bookings for Greece and Cyprus

According to the Association of the Tour Operators of Russia (ATR), bookings to Greece are 4 to 5 times higher than last season. The data showed that bookings to Greece have started at an earlier stage compared to the past, with Russian tour agencies urging holidaymakers to book as early as possible for Greece and Cyprus in order to not miss out, as demand has reached high levels. Tourist agency Mouzenidis Travel, which presented the data on ATOR’s website, noted that there has been a 400% rise in early bookings from Russia to Greece for the upcoming summer season. The travel agency attributes the massive rise to marketing events it organised in the Russian tourist market aimed at promoting Greece as a holiday destination. Another agency, ICS Travel reached similar conclusions, stressing that early bookings for Greece had already started by the end of January and that the rise was five-fold, adding that a key factor was also the special discount packages offered by Greek hotel owners that were as much as 15%. KMP-Group also underlines that a wide range of offers made by Greek hotels, like free meals, free stays for children or free transport resulted in a larger number of bookings. Another factor that played a role in a rise in bookings, according to Russkii Express, was the fall of the Euro in comparison to the ruble. Mouzenidis Travel estimates that the increase in bookings was influenced by both internal and external factors. Meanwhile, according to Mouzenidis Travel an increasing number of Russian families are choosing to extend their vacations in Greece for over three weeks.
THEMA.GR 

SETE Aims to Make Greece One of the World’s Top 10 Tourism Destinations .

Andreadis: SETE Aims to Make Greece 

By

 A. Makris

 -

Greece’s largest tourism business association (SETE) aims to make the country one of the top 10 tourist destinations worldwide, its chief Andreas Andreadis said on Friday at the Delphi Economic Forum, taking place at European Cultural Centre of Delphi.

“SETE has submitted a road map for the Greece of 2021 to all relevant authorities so that the number of visitors to our country can reach 35 million and revenues 19 to 20 billion euros,” he said at the event.

Asked if tourist arrivals would increase if the country left the eurozone, Andreadis said it would be a “disaster” and described this view as “silly”.

“If Greece returns to the drachma we will have millions of tourists but Greeks will be [living] in a ghetto, behind a wall that will separate them from the tourist areas, in the logic of the Caribbean. It would be an absolute disaster,” he stressed. “Our aim is for visitors and locals to live well together.”

He also rejected the view that the bailout programs are responsible for the situation the country is in and said that the problem is the lack of a national plan, the vision.

“Whoever thinks the memorandums are to blame for the situation we’re in is deluding his or herself. The memorandums must be implemented to put things in some kind of order,” he said, adding that the country needs to look towards the future.

Growth and prosperity will come when Greeks form a vision for tomorrow, he said, adding that the successful implementation of this vision is “in our DNA”.

The head of SETE also estimated growth will come from the service sector, noting tourism will help other sectors recover, such as real estate, agricultural production, transport, energy etc.

“Greece will not be saved with the third, fourth or tenth memorandum. It will be saved with a vision,” he added.
(source: ana-mpa)

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/03/04/andreadis-sete-aims-to-make-greece-one-of-the-%ce%85worlds-top-10-tourism-destinations/#sthash.vv5uFhj9.dpuf

Greece the Second Top Choice for German Tourists

The World’s Leading Travel Trade Show ITB will open its doors on March 9 in Berlin with the participation of 10,000 exhibitors from 180 countries around the world.

Greece is the second top choice for German tourists after the Balearic Islands. Honored country this year is Botswana.

The first signs for the Greek tourism sector are very positive this year as bookings are constantly increasing. “A lot Germans have booked their holidays earlier than the previous years, partly in November and December,” Norbert Fimpigk, president of the German Travel Association (DRV), said.
(source: ana-mpa)

- See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/03/08/greece-the-second-top-choice-for-german-tourists/#sthash.nbJqdtmt.dpuf

Meteora: The unique Monasteries with the unique view (VIDEO-PHOTOS)

A place that inspired elements of the Game of Thrones series! Near Thessaloniki (2 hours away )

Meteora is a place of beautiful place as well as a place of spiritual inner searches.
It is the second most important religious area after Mount Athos in Greece ans one
of the most important in the Orthodox Christianity.
The place is also ideal for tourism, of all kinds. Hiking, rafting, trekking or family
vacations. With numerous places to visit it provides an unforgettable all season
 experience.

Which countries Greece expects the most tourist from

Which countries Greece expects the most tourist from

CCI data aids Greek tourism to determine the countries most likely to pick the country as a holiday destination

In an effort to gauge the likelihood of incoming tourism per country to Greece, the Greek Tourism Confederation’s (SETE) Intelligence unit has incorporated the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) in its analytics arsenal. According to the CCI, which measures the consumer confidence citizens of countries as prospective tourists based on the OECD, visitors to Greece are more likely to come from the Czech Republic, USAm Finland, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Holland, and to a lesser degree from Austria, Germany and Sweden. The CCI data reflects the incoming flight bookings with the exception of the UK, where despite the low CCI, citizens have a high degree of flight bookings. Slovakia recorded the highest CCI number with 102.8, while Turkey registered the higher fall in CCI with 2.3% and stands at the lowest number at 96 points. Arrivals in Greece were up by 6.9% via air for January, representing over 18,000 people. Athens International Airport constituted 43% of those, and Thessaloniki airport 57%. Arrivals in Greece via road were down by 10.8% in January 2017 compared to the same period last year. Finally sea arrivals from Italy to Greece recorded a 6.8% increase compared to January 2016.

January land and air arrivals 

CCI per country 

Sea arrivals

source :Sete 

The biggest square in the Balkans is on a Greek island! (PHOTOS)

It is also the 27th in the world

Which is the biggest square in Greece and where is it? The answer

is the Spianada Square and it is on an island: Corfu! It is not just the

biggest square in Greece but of all the Balkans. It also is the 27th in the word!

It covers a total of 84.000 sq.m. However, its size is not the only thing that

is important, for it is also a historic square. Its name comes from the Italian

word “spianare”, which means “to level down”. In 1576 it was decided that

the buildings in front of the castle should be demolished for defensive

reasons and to improve the…view they had. In 2,5 years about 2.500

buildings were demolished!

ΠΗΓΗ :ΘΕΜΑ.GR

German Tour Operators: Demand for Greece is up

Rise in demand also for western Mediterranean

countries

Bookings show an increased demand of Greece in summer,

say German tour operators. According to Deutsche Welle,

Germany’s largest tour operator, TUI registered a 4% increase

in bookings for Greece in the current winter period and the

coming summer, compared to the previous year. Thomas Cook,

which is the second largest operator in terms of turnover, also

stated there was a rise in demand for Greece, while All Tours said

demand for Greece is “very good” for the summer and “good” for

Spain. In addition, the operator noted a fall in reservations for Turkey.

Another operator, DER Touristik, pointed out bookings for Greece

have doubled in comparison to last year, with a concurrent increase

 in demand for countries in the Western