Greece intends on marketing its cultural attractions

Holidaymakers booking flights to Greece should recognise the country's cultural offerings rather than simply see it as a "sun and sea destination".

This is according to Greece's deputy culture and tourism minister Angela Gerekou, who said that there is a great desire to "cultivate the local cultural identity" and move away from the "exhausted" view of simply sun and sand.

"We need to give Greek tourism a new identity in the market it deserves," she explained.

"We know that despite the economic crisis, the need for people to travel and explore is equally big, and a reality."

Ms Gerekou went on to say that British holidaymakers are Greece's most important tourist market, and that the Acropolis Museum in Athens has already attracted one million visitors this year already.

Figures from the Greek Touristic Research Institute indicate that the number of holidaymakers arriving at Greek airports fell by 7.8 percent during the first ten months of this year compared with the same period in 2008.

Posted by Merv, 03 December 2009 13:28

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