Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, during her speech at the 2nd Travel Trade Athens Workshop and Forum, stressed the importance of promoting Athens as the key driver of growth for the Greek tourism.

She estimated that 2014 would be a very good year for the Greek tourism and added that the aim is to turn Athens into a metropolitan tourism centre that would offer upgraded services.

“Athens is the mirror of the country. We need to improve the city’s image, to modernize the tourism product that the capital is offering,” she said.

“We decided to put Athens back on the map of international events; to turn Athens again into a city of positive news,” she added. The Minister also pointed out that the Greek capital does not need impressive steps and superficial approaches but effective interventions.

Regarding the city of Athens, the general director of “Great Britain” hotel Tim Ananiadis, who represented the Athens Attica Hotel Association (EXAA), and the Director General of SETE Alexander Lamnidis underlined that Athens is returning to the international tourism scene and referred to the capital’s significant potential for further growth.