Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Thursday expressed his optimism over developments in the tourism sector and stressed that Greece has managed to stabilize tourist arrivals and expected an increase in the next few years.

Speaking to reporters, after a visit to Tourism ministry, the Greek PM said the country was now registered as a new tourist destination to new tourism markets around the world. Karamanlis announced that Greek museums and archaeological sites would be open from 08.00 to 19.30 daily, including weekends, valid from June.

He noted that the government was promoting alternative forms of tourism in the country, such as spa and agro-tourism, while the ministry was drafting a new legislation on healthcare tourism.

Karamanlis said the Tourism ministry would announce, in the next few days, the hiring of new staff for Greece's National Tourism Organization’s offices around the world. The organization currently operates a network of 23 offices and plans to open 49 new offices soon.

The Greek Prime Minister said the government was considering tourism as a main tool of economic growth and emphasized that the government has achieved much in its 14 months in office. "Ambitious goals have been set, many more are expected to be achieved," he noted.

Source: Athens News Agency

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