Slashing red tape and developing green tourism

Speaking here on 9 November within the framework of the World Travel Market (WTM) international travel trade show, Greek Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister Angela Gerekou underlined the necessity for slashing red tape, development of what she called green tourism, a national strategic marketing planning and the upgrading of the available tourist product. Filling the legislative voids will help in curbing bureaucracy, Gerekou said, stressing that within this framework, dysfunctions in Greece’s cavernous public administration will be dealt with drastically to attract foreign investors. As regards green development, the main goal is to support investment plans that will contribute to saving in energy and resources, utilization of renewable energy sources (RES) and a reduction of waste. Based on available figures, Greece had a 1.6% share in the global tourist market in 2008 with 50% of visitors coming from five European countries. Moreover, 50% of all international arrivals are recorded in the period between July through September, while four airports received roughly eight million tourists annually. Inaugurating the Greek pavilion at the WTM exhibition, Gerekou underlined that Greece can offer quality tourism services despite the economic crisis.