Tourism for Czech Republic is very important because it can built the foundations to have a strong tourism wave from Czech Republic to Greece and vise versa, said Mr. Panagiotis Meletis, Director of Czech Republic’s National Tourism Organization in Greece and Vice-president of Goldair, in Exhibition `Philoxenia 2005` held in Greece.

The targeting points of the Organization according to Mr. Meletis are, that in the next five years the number of Greek visits to Czech Republic will increase from 40.000 to 75.000 yearly and their average stay to become one or two days more, and secondly to expand the destinations beyond Prague in which tourists can visit.

In the third quarter of 2005 11.300 Greeks visited Czech Republic, while in the third quarter of 2004 only the half came to the country. The development of Greek market is particular important because it is not only the increase of Greek arrivals in Czech Republic but the fact that Greece is in the 19th place among those who come to Czech Republic. In the first place are Germany, England and Italy.