Convention tourism boom seen for Greece
Monday, November 20, 2000
Greece should expect a boom in convention tourism in view of the Athens 2004 Games judging by the experience of Australia, where more than 200 international conferences have been organised following the Sydney Olympics. But this will only occur if the proper infrastructure is established, the Greek conference organisers association (SEPOS) has stressed.
SEPOS<.> chairman Dimitris Mantziou pointed out that Barcelona was also attracting conferences as a result of its successful hosting of the Olympics. SEPOS has just published its first annual English-language guide entitled Congresses, Incentives, Meetings in Greece. A total of 10,000 copies are being sent to conference organisers, exhibition organisers, tourism authorities and other bodies in Europe and the US. Another 5,000 will go to major firms, medical and scientific organisations, banks and other bodies in Greece.
Printed by Hellenic Sun Editions, the guide made an appearance at EIBTM 2000 in Geneva, considered one of the biggest business and convention tourism exhibitions. It features various regions of Greece with detailed information and numerous photographs.
Mantziou said both SEPOS and the Hellenic Tourism Organisation (EOT<.>) shared the goal of expanding Greece`s capabilities in the convention tourism field.
SEPOS aims to establish Greece as the most significant conference destination in the Mediterranean within the next decade. It believes this can be achieved as Greece has many advantages such as a moderate climate year-round, a wide variety of tourist destinations, a cultural tradition as well as a modern lifestyle. Indeed, the conference concept was born in Delphi, Greece.
Furthermore, the Sydney Games is seen as having boosted tourism to Australia just weeks after they ended. Australia`s tourism authority, which ran promotions in various countries, reported that US arrivals have risen 60% compared with the same period last year while the number of Britons has risen 72% and Germans 50%.
Theodore Koumelis
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Monday, November 20, 2000
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