Greek development minister upbeat on tourism prospects despite war

ATHENS (AFP) Apr 03, 2003
Greece is optimistic its tourism industry will avoid any serious fallout from the Iraq war despite a drop in reservations over the past three months, Development Minister Akis Tsokhatzopoulos said.

In a statement released Thursday, based on his comments to parliament the previous day, Tsokhatzopoulos said he still hoped Greece would receive the same number of foreign visitors as last year.

Bookings had fallen since February, he said, but "measures to boost demand will be taken ... with the objective of maintaining the number of tourists in 2003 at 14 million".

Last month the minister said there had been a "provisional" fall in reservations of between 10 and 20 percent.

Hatta, the Greek travel agents' body, has estimated that the Iraq crisis would reduce the number of visitors to the Mediterranean region by 15 to 30 percent.

SPACE.WIRE