GNTO Set to Promote Four Tourism Segments in Australia

“Greece is more than the islands and more than just a summer destination.  Greece is a year round destination,” said Mr George Spiliotis, Director, Australia & New Zealand, Greek National Tourism Organisation, at a Sydney travel trade and media update in mid April.

The informative evening co-hosted by Mr George Dingli, General Manager, Chat Tours was designed to renew contacts with the industry and media and inform the gathering about recent tourism developments in the country.

Back dropped by a banner emblazoned with GNTO’s current slogan “Live your Myth in Greece”, Mr Spiliotis said that one relatively new development was the establishment of the Greek Ministry of Tourism which is just two years old.  “It’s a good beginning as we now have a vehicle to accommodate requests and demands from the tourism industry,” he said.

It’s a department that will be also instrumental in coordinating investment and infrastructural development, he added.

While infrastructure such as trains and highways is much better because of the Olympic Games in 2004, the country is making inroads to become a significant golf destination, he said.

There are currently just six golf courses in the country.  However, 11 resort complexes which include one or more 18 hole golf course are now under development.

In a bid to diversify its tourism product and in line with the Greek government’s efforts to promote high quality, year round tourism, the development of golf resorts with state-of-the-art leisure facilities is being given top priority. 

Encouraged by recent legislation that provides incentives such as subsidies and tax concessions, this previously neglected sector is starting to attract major attention from Greek and foreign investors.

Greek tourism pundits concur that a largely untapped potential for development exists in integrated resorts that combine health tourism (spa and thalassotherapy), conference centres, marinas, residential tourism, casinos and sporting facilities such as golf courses.    

The biggest project consists of two luxury golf resorts near the historic bay of Navarino on the southwest Peloponnese.  When totally completed in 2015 the 1 billion Euro project with its conference centre, 12 luxury hotels and 320 villas will be Greece’s premier golf destination.

Meanwhile Sydney-based Glen Alpine International is developing an integrated tourism and real estate resort in Thesprotia in north western Greece. 

The golf course architect Antony Cashmore & Associates and the Australian resort architect Malcolm Davidson are also involved in the project which will include an 18 hole golf course highlighted by the area’s unspoiled beauty.

Though its potential to attract high-yield visitors is enormous, golf is only one component of an even broader tourism segment. Sports tourism is the “big area that we are keen to promote in Australia,” said Mr Spiliotis.

Beyond golf there is diving, yachting and sailing which appeals to an increasing number of Australians and even bushwalking in northern Greece.

There are “many mountainous areas – places like Ipirus and Macedonia – where there are no tourists”, he said.

In addition to its appeal to bushwalking enthusiasts and eco tourism exponents, northern Greece is an area where village life and the traditional aspects of Greece can still be seen.

Some traditions in Greece are disappearing due to globalisation but they are still quite strong in this part of the country, said Mr Spiliotis.

There are some 40 villages in the Zagoria area where village hospitality is deep rooted.

People living in stone houses back dropped by steep mountains provide pension style accommodation.  Locally made wine and spirits accompanying traditional food is reasonably priced, he said.

The Sarakatsani, thought to be among the purest Greeks and descendants of the original pastoral tribes of Homeric Greece, live in the Zagoria region.  Their annual festival is held at Gyftokambos in Central Zagoria on the first weekend in August.

The people and culture of this mountainous area are part of “Vanishing Greece” that Mr Spiliotis intends to introduce to the Australian market this year along with sports tourism.

Two other key Greek tourism segments ‘Classical Greece’ and the ‘Greek Islands’ need little introduction in the Australian market because they are already popular but they will also be promoted this year, he said.

The GNTO’s plan for Australia is “to approach and support tour operators and retail agents” as well as providing a service to the travelling public.

An advertising and marketing plan for Australia is planned.  Its implementation, however, awaits a change in head office policy to locally undertake such activities. 

Mr Spiliotis said he will be meeting soon with the new Minister of Tourism, Mrs Petralia who has only held the tourism portfolio since February, to clarify a number of issues aimed at boosting tourism arrivals.

Some 90,000 Australian passport holders visited Greece in 2005.  Many more actually came from this country but they hold Greek passports and are not counted in the Australian statistics, he noted.

While Mr Spiliotis is keen to increase this number he feels that there is sufficient capacity for the time being with Singapore Airlines, Thai International, Gulf Air and Emirates plying the Australia Greece air corridor.

GNTO Director, George Spiliotis, looks forward to an enhanced relationship with the Australian travel industry in promoting Classical Greece, the Islands, Vanishing Greece and Sports Tourism.

Special report by Thomas E. King

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