Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Tourism: Greek resorts slash almost a third off prices due to financial crisis

Source: FOCUS Information Agency

Because of the financial crisis Greek resorts have reduced the prices of tourist services by 30%, Greece’s ambassador to Bulgaria Danae-Madeleine Koumanakou said in the southern Bulgarian town of Smolyan, cited by Focus – Smolyan Radio.

The ambassador noted it was early to predict whether the number of Bulgarians spending their holiday in Greece this summer would go down because of the crisis or the number of Greeks visiting Bulgaria would drop.

“I believe the opposite could happen because the distance is very short and the two destinations will remain equally popular,” Greek ambassador added.

She added that the number of days spent in both countries would decrease, however.

“As we can see, there are encouraging signs from the U.S. that the crisis has its answers and that is why we are limited optimists that there will be difficulties only in the near future. One way or another, prices go down, at least by 30%,” said Danae-Madeleine Koumanakou.

Earlier on Tuesday two agreements were signed at a ceremony attended by the Greek ambassador, Bulgarian Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Public Works Dimcho Mihalevski, Smolyan Mayor Dora Yankova, district governor Petar Fidanov, deputy mayors of the municipalities of Vratsa and Kardzhali.

The agreements will modernize three regional hospitals in the municipalities of Kardzhali, Smolyan and Vratsa under the health sector project, which is co-financed by the Greek government within the Greek plan for economic development of the Balkans.
Zdravko BESHENDZHIEV
Published by Mike Hitchen, Mike Hitchen Consulting
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