Post by Bozur on Apr 10, 2005 3:49:54 GMT -5
Why Greek tourism has stagnated despite its comparative advantages
By Nikos Nikolaou - Kathimerini
Eight out of 10 investment proposals by Greek and foreign businessmen arriving at the ministries of Economy and Development concern tourism. However, tapping the comparative advantages of Greece’s tourism sector for continuous and steady growth requires that the government implement an aggressive policy and tackles problems, including those related to infrastructure that give the country a poor image abroad.
Greek tourism exhibited steady and strong growth from the early 1970s to the late 1990s but seems to have stagnated since. Industry sources attribute this to the following causes:
First was the rapid ascent of new Mediterranean destinations, such as Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and Croatia. The comparatively weak competitiveness of Greek hotels has been exacerbated by the rise of the euro, so it would be a good idea for Greek tourism enterprises to be allowed to sign contracts in dollars. However, Greece’s weak competitiveness is basically due to high wage costs compared to non-eurozone countries. Second is inadequate services: With our country’s historical heritage, it is unacceptable for museums to close at 3 p.m. and for most archaeological sites to be non-accessible due to a lack of guards (in Istanbul and Cappadocia in Turkey, more than half of tourists visit Byzantine monuments). What’s more, it is difficult for visitors to find cheap and clean restaurants and cafes, where it is quite common to be asked to pay even 5 euros for an espresso. A solution would be for the Tourism Ministry to provide favorable terms of funding to businesses that undertake to operate model catering units at reasonable prices.
Third, measures should be taken against unregistered accommodation, which often provide substandard service and compete unfairly with those properly registered. This is a phenomenon similar to the well-known maxim, “bad money drives out good.” Spain’s example of closing down old and substandard accommodation facilities should be urgently followed. Fourth, general transportation facilities, including ports, airports, roads and signposting are often found to be seriously inadequate, while the lack of coordination among ministries hampers private investment in tourism.
Museum hours
Following consultations with the Attica Hoteliers Association (EXA), the National Greek Tourism Organization (GNTO) is to press for the extension of museum visiting hours to 10 p.m., with a view to bolstering the region’s facilities for visitors, EXA said in a statement.
EXA said it has also raised the issue of allowing the use of designated cultural and historical sites for conferences, as elsewhere in Europe, after receiving complaints from tour operators who have lost business after having applications turned down. GNTO is to consider a proposal by EXA to set up a special bureau that will handle such events.
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=53911
By Nikos Nikolaou - Kathimerini
Eight out of 10 investment proposals by Greek and foreign businessmen arriving at the ministries of Economy and Development concern tourism. However, tapping the comparative advantages of Greece’s tourism sector for continuous and steady growth requires that the government implement an aggressive policy and tackles problems, including those related to infrastructure that give the country a poor image abroad.
Greek tourism exhibited steady and strong growth from the early 1970s to the late 1990s but seems to have stagnated since. Industry sources attribute this to the following causes:
First was the rapid ascent of new Mediterranean destinations, such as Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and Croatia. The comparatively weak competitiveness of Greek hotels has been exacerbated by the rise of the euro, so it would be a good idea for Greek tourism enterprises to be allowed to sign contracts in dollars. However, Greece’s weak competitiveness is basically due to high wage costs compared to non-eurozone countries. Second is inadequate services: With our country’s historical heritage, it is unacceptable for museums to close at 3 p.m. and for most archaeological sites to be non-accessible due to a lack of guards (in Istanbul and Cappadocia in Turkey, more than half of tourists visit Byzantine monuments). What’s more, it is difficult for visitors to find cheap and clean restaurants and cafes, where it is quite common to be asked to pay even 5 euros for an espresso. A solution would be for the Tourism Ministry to provide favorable terms of funding to businesses that undertake to operate model catering units at reasonable prices.
Third, measures should be taken against unregistered accommodation, which often provide substandard service and compete unfairly with those properly registered. This is a phenomenon similar to the well-known maxim, “bad money drives out good.” Spain’s example of closing down old and substandard accommodation facilities should be urgently followed. Fourth, general transportation facilities, including ports, airports, roads and signposting are often found to be seriously inadequate, while the lack of coordination among ministries hampers private investment in tourism.
Museum hours
Following consultations with the Attica Hoteliers Association (EXA), the National Greek Tourism Organization (GNTO) is to press for the extension of museum visiting hours to 10 p.m., with a view to bolstering the region’s facilities for visitors, EXA said in a statement.
EXA said it has also raised the issue of allowing the use of designated cultural and historical sites for conferences, as elsewhere in Europe, after receiving complaints from tour operators who have lost business after having applications turned down. GNTO is to consider a proposal by EXA to set up a special bureau that will handle such events.
www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/news/content.asp?aid=53911