Greek tourism industry optimistic over 2012 seasonMarch 5, 2012 - 20:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Greek tourism industry officials are hopeful arrivals in 2012 will remain near last year's record high, despite lagging initial bookings from major European economies, according to AP. The head of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises says there has been a significant drop in pre-bookings from the continent's strongest economies, particularly Germany. But Andreas Andreadis says the season can be saved following the conclusion of a massive debt relief deal with the crisis-hit country's creditors. He said Monday that the target is to keep international arrivals in 2012 above 16 million, and receipts higher than euro10 billion ($13.2 billion). Last year, arrivals reached 16.4 million and revenues euro10.5 billion - both up 9.5 percent on 2010. Tourism contributed some 15.7 percent of Greece's GDP last year. Top stories Yerevan has dismissed Turkey’s demand to shut down the Armenian nuclear power plant as “inappropriate”. Armenia will loan 2.9 billion drams to Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh), according to a draft government decision. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan has “strongly condemned” Armenia’s decision. Kerobyan has said that for the first time in the history of Armenia, the volume of foreign direct investments amounted to about $1 billion. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |