Basic HTML Version
MEETINGREECE
8
GREECE
G
reece is a peninsular country possessing an
archipelago of more than 2.000 islands. It is
located in the south-eastern part of Europe,
surrounded by the Aegean, Ionian and
Mediterranean seas, bordering by land with
Albania, Turkey, Bulgaria and FYROM. The country
covers an area of 131.957 km2 and with about 15.021 km length,
has the longest coastline in Europe (12th in the world). The
average temperature fluctuates between 2o-14oC in the winter
and between 18o-28oC in the summer. 29 different types of
Mediterranean climate have been recorded, 14 humid and 15
dry. Greece is noted for its exceptional biodiversity, with plenty of
mountains, rivers, lakes, wetlands, islands, even volcanoes, all
within its borders. 60% of its territory is mountainous with the
highest peak of Mount Olympos at 2.917 m. The longest river is
Aliakmonas, with 297 km length, and the largest lake is
Trichonida with a surface of 97 km2. Greece has hundreds of
islands, from which about 700 are of a substantial size and are
inhabited. According to latest estimations, Greece has a total of
about 11.500.000 residents. Also there is a significant number of
Greeks abroad the country (about 5 million), with the largest
communities in the USA and Canada countries of the former
Soviet Union, Australia, Germany, Great Britain and South Africa.
Today’s visitors to Greece have the opportunity to trace the
fingerprints of Greek history from the Palaeolithic Era to the
Roman Period in the hundreds of archaeological sites, as well as
in the archaeological museums and collections that are scattered
throughout the country. Greece attracts more than 16 million
tourists each year, contributing 15,2% (2009 data) to the nation’s
Gross Domestic Product. Greece has been an attraction for
international visitors since antiquity for its rich and long history,
Mediterranean coastline and beaches.
In 2005, 6.088.287 tourists visited Athens. In 2008, 16.5 million
visited Greece. As a developed country highly dependent on
tourism, Greece offers a wide variety of tourist facilities that have
been greatly improved since 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
Greece has 51 marinas, 752 thermosprings and great
conference facilities. Conference tourism, targeted at academic,
business, or cultural markets is a cornerstone of the Greek
national tourism policy. In a recent report in Meeting and
Incentive Travel, Greece was ranked eighth in the world in
overnight stays for conferences. Figures from the Tourism
Satellite Accounting Research, conducted by WTTC (World
Travel & Tourism Council) project a worldwide increase in
revenues in business travel to Greece from US $1,51 bn. in 2001
to US $2,69 bn. in 2011.
I NV E S T I N TOUR I SM
Greece is one of the top tourism destinations in the world. In fact
Lonely Planet placed Greece among its top 10 destinations for
2010 and Greece ranks second in England’s 2008 Telegraph
Travel Awards in their Best European Country ranking. The
number of tourism visits over the last decade has shown a
steady increase. From 14,2 million international visitors in 2004,
Congresses and symposiums were frequently
practiced in ancient Greece, organized by
wealthy patrons of the arts and sciences.
Philosophers, artists and scientists would gather
to discuss their theories and viewpoints on many
issues. The discussions took a dialectic form and
were accompanied by food, wine and music. Some
discussions carried out during symposiums were
written down and are now considered
masterpieces of world literature. A very well
known example is Plato’s “Symposium”.
Greece…Where history,
tradition and modern lifestyle
merge smoothly together
20 ports – 26 international airports