The tourism ministry plans to turn the world’s attention to Athens through a new promotional program, called Athens every week.
The launch was made by Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos during the annual general assembly of the Athens-Attica Hoteliers Association on Tuesday.
Hoteliers welcomed the project saying it would contribute to restoring the capital’s reputation while it was also a starting point for constructive cooperation between the public and private sectors.
Addressing the general assembly, Geroulanos said the program would renew interest for Athens offering a chance to extend the tourism season and created a single platform for all actions and events happening in the city.
“It is a program capable of promoting with some imagination, a little effort and some money, all the things making Athens a special city, a lively city. It offers an answer to a question set by foreigners again and again during our trips abroad. Where have you been?” the minister said.
He also announced a tender for creating a congress centre in the Tae Kwon Do facility would be next.
Yiannis Retsos, president of the Association underlined the necessity of promoting Athens’ tourism and presented a series of actions aimed at boosting hotel reservations.
He also presented a report on 2010 figures so far, saying that room occupancy in Athens-Attica hotels surpassed 90 per cent during the October 29-31 period, because of the Athens Marathon 2010 event, highlighting the benefits of such large-scale events on Greek tourism.