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Maria S. Topalova talks with the President of the Association of tourist operators in Greece about the difficult tourist season and about the summer holidays trends in 2010 and how to make pleasant our vacation during the crisis

Mrs. Ifandi, what data is there currently present, how is the tourist season going on in Greece in this difficult for the economy period?

In Greece at the beginning of the tourist season we had a greater concern because of the economic measures, however fortunately our forecasts did not materialize. At the moment things on the market are going smoothly. At some places things go better, i.e. a given region is developing better, another region - worse, one tourist market goes well, while another lags. But the overall impression is that things are moving close to last year's levels. I.e. we are moderate optimists, because the market is developing smoothly. And we believe that except of course for the full season in which we are currently entering, very well will go also the fall season. In recent years, due to the common international economic crisis there was a decline in tourism and the forecasts of the international tourist organizations for the development of tourism have changed because of the economic crisis. Consequences there were for all countries including Greece. While the euro was expensive and I would say probably even overestimated, there was greater competition from countries outside the euro area, from the eastern Mediterranean, which are our main competitors - Croatia, Turkey, Egypt. The advantage for our country is that it offers quality products that our competitive countries can not offer and it also provides security for the tourists. These are the pros. Currentle, I do not hide it, the whole tourist industry and the political leadership but mainly the tourism market, because this is what we are talking about, is currently ready for action and offers quality products and we believe that today's forecast will eventually justify, and we hope they will even improve, so we all wish.

Which regions are developing better and which are lagging behind?

The island of Rhodes is going very well, the Sporades archipelago also some other areas registered a decrease, greater than last year, which does not mean that by the end of the tourist season, things will still go in the same direction. The phenomenon lead bookings (early reservations) is what dominates the market in recent years at international level. Α lead are markets which operated many months in advance and we knew with certainty to a large extent how they will develop. Now the late reservations have become a "law" for everyone here. Before we were saying that late reservations are making the Greeks or Italians, you know, the Mediterraneans. Now also the northern nationalities are making late reservations. Naturally, not the entire market is moving so, but it is a new trend.

From which countries are most tourists coming?

We are laying behind in some traditional for us markets from the European Union. There are being made some efforts to improve the things. From the very beginning we had very good news from the Russian market, which is going very well. Following the change in the relationship between the euro and the dollar also the American market is going well. The Americans were a bit confined in their shell, because the euro was very expensive for them. The change in the exchange rate has a positive effect on tourism – both for the European, and for the Greek. And the overseas markets as we call them, also develop better.

How important is to you the Bulgarian market?

The Bulgarian market is both favorite because the Bulgarians are our neighbors, and important, I would say mostly to northern Greece, as you know. Because it is the outlet to the Mediterranean for the Bulgarians and for some of our companies Bulgarians have become what we call regular customers. And also because there is a similar mentality this is a desirable market for Greece.

Now you ask for the tourists in Greece, you changed is the quality of visitors?

International economic crisis affected the tourist packages and tourists began to prefer the cheaper packages and limited their purchases. The U.S. market is recovering, but Europe is in a stage of a common recession or psychological concern, if you think about it, about what is happening in the economies of the member countries. For the 40 years that I am in tourism, there have always been fluctuations – there is a rise, and there are also downs. And sometimes you find yourself at the top of the curve, sometimes at its lower part, but always with a tendency to rise, ie the figures increase over time. When we were preparing the Olympic Games we were at the bottom of the curve. It's a little strange, but it is a phenomenon typical not only for Greece, it has happened in other countries as well. Because many people are afraid to go or because the price will be higher, or because there are many people. While following the logic a country should be registering a major development, this does not happen.

With regard to the prices what happens in the tourism industry? On the one hand there is the problem of competitiveness, ie prices must go down, on the other hand we see taxes increasing continuously ...

First I would like to make a distinction between the organized and independent travel. Organized trip is much cheaper than the independent one, both for foreigners, and for the Greeks. Because when we start alone to make reservations, and especially when we are in a peak period, we have a very high price. The organized tourism has the advantage that does a wholesale and therefore prices are much more competitive. They should not be too low as well in order to ensure also the quality of tourism, ie the principle value for money should be followed. During a period of crisis there is some flexibility and some better offers, so far, however, to ensure the quality of our tourism. This is the most important point and we are also going in this direction. Clearly, there are similar offers, and there is also the problem that now the VAT increased and in the tourist services, of course, the hotels have the lowest rate, therefore, differentiation is very high also in the services of travel agencies. Currently the travel companies are trying to offset this increase, and will do so as far as possible, ie they will curb their profits.

And one last question. What will you advise our readers? Let's say if they want to come to Greece and to have what  in English is called value for money, what should they choose - which places, what products at what time ...

Let us begin with the most important thing that whoever travels in peak season will have more expensive services, and maybe not so quality ones. Because where there is high congestion in general there are problems. Therefore, I would say that the initial choice should not be in the peak period. The second thing is the timely planning, because this also facilitates the travel companies to have better prices, something which not always happens. I would recommend to learn, explore a little bit more of Greece, because there are many beautiful places that they do not know. And this I can say with confidence because we know more or less how the market moves, in what directions. Outside normal destinations to seek alternative ones, new destinations. They will encounter many surprises will know many "Greece". Because Greece has a great variety. Epirus is completely different from Macedonia, even one island from another. The mature consumer knows and makes this choice in order to travel much more comfortably, more economically and with much better quality.

In Greece, the peak period is during July and August, right?

Yes, in July and August, but the peak period is from July 20 to August 20. Then is the peak period. Outside this period even if some region is “over”, there is a choice in other regions which are not so busy. This period is the most difficult because there is a large gathering of people. In Athens in the peak period there are much less people and traffic problem is solved. Furthermore, the Attica area has one part which is purely a resort. All its beaches are much recommended. The summer in Athens is the low season, and offers everything – it offers great beaches, but also culture, shows, stuff and all of this the clever customer could exploit wonderfully.

Is there any cooperation between Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey in the field of tourism?

Yes, and significant efforts are made by the associations that we have in Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey to cooperate for the promotion the tourism between our countries, but also the tourism from third countries, from distant markets. Also, we support the cooperation both with Bulgaria and Turkey within ΕΚΤΑ, our European body representing tour operators and travel agents from all across Europe. And I really consider those relations extremely positive.