The first Greek Forum titled “Tourism Map 2007” has been declared by the Greek Minister of Tourism Development Ms. Fani Petralia, with the presence of the Greek Prime Minister Mr. Kostas Karamanlis. The minister announced the initiative of the ministry for the unification of Attica’s coastal zone with the creation of a new united pedestrian zone of 35 kilometers long for “strolling and cycling” that will connect the Friend & Peace Stadium in Piraeus with Varkiza in the southwestern side of Attica.

Through its eight dedicated sections in which representatives of the government, the Prefecture and Local Administration as well as tourism bodies gave presence, the forum aimed at the analysis of the basic parameters that constitute the today’s Greek tourism industry and that is to register the potentials that open in this important sector of the economy and to promote solutions in vital issues that will facilitate the tourism development of Greece.

“The first Tourism Forum will be an opportunity for the common meeting of all the tourism bodies in Greece” stressed in her speech Ms. Petralia. She mentioned that “tourism is a issue that must concern us all and its development goes along with the offering of top quality in all the aspects of the tourism activity.”

She went on to say that the tourism development is not only a case of a state. It concerns every region, every city, every county and everyone who is evolved in the tourism business. It is a case of the hotel manager, the local restaurant owner, the taxi driver and in the end it is a case of all citizens.

“Our plan for the enforcement of tourism development relies on the basis of conversation, dialogue, consulting and participation for our common actions. And our plan is for all the Greek citizens. In the development of our tourism we ought to be the leading stars. Only in that way we be able to place Greece once and for all in a quick and balanced route of economical development. That is the meaning of the Tourism Map 2007 which we promote with everyone’s cooperation,” emphasized Ms. Petralia.

“Our target is to have a year round tourism” stated Mr. Karamanlis. “We are working with faith for the business skills of the Greeks, with faith in Greece’s potential. We are working hard to free our economy from perceptions that kept our country behind the scenes.”

“The full exploitation of the tourism industry potential is a top priority for us. Tourism is by far the industry of decentralization, of the viable and balanced development. It is one of the strongest tools that we possess in order to heave the peripheral inequalities, for the development of a series of adjacent sectors of the economy, for our country’s prosperity and for the well being of our society,” added Mr. Karamanlis.

His optimism for the Greek tourism industry also expressed Mr. Petros Doukas, the under-secretary of the Ministry of Economy & Finance speaking at the Forum. “Until November the exchange from the tourism activities that came to our country was approximately 12 billions euro which counts to almost the 5% of Greece’s GTP.”

Speaking for the new emerging markets in the tourism industry Mr. Doukas mentioned the wealthy countries of the Middle East and especially in the Gulf region, but also for the big markets of Japan, China and Southeastern Asia. He also mentioned Russia, Ukraine and Hungary for which Greece is the closest destination in Mediterranean.