Tourism in Austria

             Tourism is an important part of Austria's services sector. In 1991 foreign tourists accounted for earnings of S192.4 billion, almost offsetting the negative trade balance and deficits in services or other accounts. Tourism is a principal industry and source of foreign exchange. In fact, Austria's per capita tourist revenue is the highest in the world. Foreign overnight stays in Austria have risen consistently since World War II, from 50 million in 1950, to 59 million in 1970, and to 95 million in 1990. With 20 million visitors in 1990, Austria was fifth in the world in tourist revenues, surpassed only by the United States, France, Italy, and Spain. Most tourists come from European countries. Almost two-thirds come from Germany, followed by the Netherlands (10 percent) and Britain (5 percent).

         Austria's largest tourist attraction has long been the Alps-- for skiing in the winter and for hiking and camping in the summer. For this reason, the mountainous provinces of Tirol, Carinthia, and Vorarlberg produce the greatest tourist revenues. Salzburg is an important tourist attraction in the summer. Vienna remains a tourist center all year but does not generate as much tourist revenue as the mountain areas.

            Austria has 20,000 hotels and pensions, as well as an additional 50,000 private rooms available to house tourists. In addition, there are thousands of simpler accommodations, such as youth hostels, mountain huts, and campsites.

           Austria has also made significant progress in becoming an international conference center. The so-called United Nations City, located outside Vienna, contains the headquarters of a number of major United Nations (UN) organizations. Vienna also has an international conference center. Taking advantage of Austria's neutral status, Vienna has hosted numerous East-West negotiations and is the permanent seat not only of such longestablished organizations as the International Atomic Energy Agency but also of the newer Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe. The opening of Eastern Europe is likely to make Vienna an even more important center for East-West travel.

Tourism in Belgium

          Tourism in Belgium is one of Belgium's industries, and its accessibility from elsewhere in Europe still makes it a popular tourist destination. The tourist industry generates 2.8% of Belgium's Gross Domestic Product and employs 3.3% of the working population (142,000 people). 6.7 million people travelled to Belgium in 2005. Two thirds of them come from the larger nearby countries - France, The Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Germany.

           In 1993, 2% of the total workforce was employed in tourism, less than in many neighbouring countries. Much of the tourism industry is located either at the heavily developed coastline or in the Ardennes. Brussels and the Flemish cities of Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp attract many cultural tourists.

          Belgium ranked 21st on the World Economic Forum's 2007 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index, lower than all the neighbouring countries. Although the country scored highly for 'natural and cultural resources', it was ranked only 114th in the world for both 'price competitiveness' and 'availability of qualified labor'. In recent years the number of international tourists has stayed relatively stable, but the income they generate has increased to 9.863 billion US Dollars in 2005.

Facts about Italy Tourism & Information on Tourist Destinations

           Italy travel guide - Ultimate Italy is a resource to discover "about Italy" focusing on everything about the "best of Italy"; the cities, Italian piazzas, the latest picks of restaurants, pizzerias, bars and caffes, italian lifestyle, the nature from Italian national parks, Alps to the breathtaking Islands. You can find not only Italy travel & tourism information but an insight into the famous people of Italy, Italian fashion,the culture, history and arts.

           Italy's flourishing tourist trade has been truly rewarded by its panoramic natural resources "the majestic Alps in the north, the soft and green hills of Tuscany & Umbria, the romantically rugged landscape of the S Apennines and the Bay of Naples, dominated by Mt. Vesuvius, is one of the world's most famous sights."

Ultimate Italy incorporates Italian tourist information, Italy travel destinations and unusual itineraries.

          Italy & Tourism are synomonous as Italy is a history lover's paradise with more than 3000 museums, churches and archeological sites dating back to Roman and Greek times. There are hundreds of the world heritage protected UNESCO assets and locations now open to tourism. The islands of Italy have been enjoyed for hundreds of years like Capri, famous for it's style and romanticism or 'Ischia' known for its natural thermal spas.

          The movement and influence of the Renaissance art and culture can be relived today as the piazzas and the cities sit uneffected by the centuries of change. There are many things about italy that make it a marvellous place to visit and with lots of tourist information available you can be assured of an interesting, unique and memorable stay. There are countless of things to do and see , you can admire the stylish Italians and enjoy the 'MODA', the uncompared italian design reflected in the italian cars, the beautiful people or experience the pulsating beat of life with it's noisy street markets and swarms of people buzzing around on Vespas. For those who want to relax and enjoy the 'cafe culture', the wine and food and 'people watch' then travel to Italy is also for you!.

          Disclaimer: Ultimate Italy is an "as is" Italy Travel Guide and we have tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible. We accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information like visas, health and safety, customs, and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.

Naples, Italy

         Naples is raucous, polluted, anarchic, deafening, crumbling and grubby. But like other cities which fit the description, it also a lot of fun. Positioned on a bay, Naples has a little - and often a lot - of everything. It pulsates with noisy street markets and swarms of people buzzing around on Vespas with no regard for traffic rules.

Lecce, Italy

         Lecce Italy Travel Guide - Find the best travel tip, history, tourist attractions, famous churches, travel information, and an exclusive guide to shopping, food & drink and nightlife in Lecce, Italy. This city of Lecce, Italy is a dream for people who love Baroque architecture.

Parma, Italy

          The name conjures up many different things for different people, all pleasurable. For the artist, it brings to mind Corregio and Parmigianino, the musician recalls Verdi and Toscanini, the archaeologist thinks of rich castles, cathedrals and fortresses, for the fashion-conscious it spells style and elegance, and for the gourmand, it means cheese and ham.

Venice, Italy

           Vibrant, vivid and vivacious, Venice, La Serenissima, Queen of the Adriatic holds a mystical aura of a city of canals and palaces. Achingly beautiful, Venice holds sway as one of the most enchanting places in the world. With canals, bridges and islands, Venice boasts of myriad magic festivals, exotic cuisine and magnificent architecture.

Trento, Italy

         Few countries in the world can compare to Italy. It is a country where you can find a mix of history, art, architecture, gastronomy, fashion and natural beauty. Italy is divided into 20 regions. Each region is divided into Provinces, and each province is divided into municipalities. The Italian regions are important in that many customs and cuisines are regional in their diversity.

Palermo, Italy

          Covered in orange groves, Palermo is the capital of Sicily. Situated in the northern part of the island, it is also the biggest city in Sicily with one of the best harbours in the world. The city is divided into the Old City and the New City. Getting around the city even with a map in hand is sometimes difficult especially in the city center.

Verona, Italy

“Romeo! Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?”

Perhaps the most famous line from the most famous love story in the English Language. But amidst the passion, the true love and the heart wrenching tragedy one seldom pays any attention to the city where the drama unfolds.

Rome, Italy

       In Rome do as the Roman does, all the paths leads to Rome, Rome wasn’t build in a day etc are not just proverbs profoundly used in literature but definitely the silent authentication of the fact that once the most famous city of the world is still sprinkling the golden dust of its glorious past in the present world and that time cannot erase the name once the mark of society, civilization, art, culture and humanity.

Ravenna, Italy

         “Ravenna, the capital of the province of the same name in north-eastern Italy, has a history stretching into the misty past. It was originally situated on coastal lagoons, which later silted up. It is now a low-lying plain near the confluence of the Ronco and Montone rivers, and has to rely on a canal to link it to the Adriatic Sea 10 km away.

Perugia, Italy

        City of chocolates, churches and music, Perugia is a splendid mix of the old and the new, the spiritual and the carnal, of tradition and modernity.

Erice, Italy

          Legend, history, beauty, culture, castles, churches, stunning views and the latest in science and technology- all this and more is at your disposal when you travel to and spend some time at the beautiful city of Erice in Sicily.

Tourism in Germany

           According to Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Reports, Germany is rated as one of the safest travel destinations worldwide. Germany is also the third most visited country in Europe, with a total of 369.6 million overnights during 2008. This number includes 56.5 million nights by foreign visitors, the majority of foreign tourists in 2009 coming from the Netherlands, the United States and Switzerland (see table).

            The official body for tourism in Germany is the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), represented worldwide by National Tourist Offices in 29 countries. Surveys by the GNTB include perceptions and reasons for holidaying in Germany, which are as follows: culture (75%), outdoors/countryside (59%), cities (59%), cleanliness (47%), security (41%), modernity (36%), good hotels (35%), good gastronomy/cuisine (34%), good accessibility (30%), cosmopolitanism/hospitality (27%), good shopping opportunities (21%), exciting nightlife (17%) and good price/performance ratio (10%) (multiple answers were possible).

History

         The history of tourism in Germany goes back to cities and landscapes being visited for education and recreation. From the late 18th century onwards, cities like Dresden, Munich, Weimar and Berlin were major stops on a European Grand tour. Spas and resorts on the North and Baltic Seas and along the Rhine valley particularly developed during the 19th and early 20th century and since the end of World War II tourism has expanded greatly, as many tourists visit Germany to experience a sense of European history. The countryside has a pastoral aura, while the cities exhibit both a modern and classical feel.

Statistics

         The table below shows the distribution of national and international visitor nights spent in each of the sixteen states of Germany in 2008. With 76.91 million nights spent in hotels, hostels or clinics, Bavaria has the most visitors, with 14.300 nights per 1,000 population; Mecklenburg-Vorpommern has the highest density of tourists.

           Forthcoming highlights in Germany are: 20 Years since the Fall of the Berlin Wall, the Oberammergau Passion Play (Bavaria) in 2010, Ruhr 2010 European capital of culture, the 2010 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships and the Finals of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011.

Countryside

Health

              About 242 million nights, or ⅔ of all nights spent in hotels in Germany, are spent in spa towns. Germany is well known for health tourism, with many of the numerous spa towns having been established at a hot spring, offering convalescence (German: Kur) or preventive care by means of mineral water and/or other spa treatment. Spa towns and seaside resorts carry official designations such as Mineral and mud spas (Mineral- und Moorbäder), Healthy climate resorts (Heilklimatische Kurorte), Kneipp cure resorts (Kneippkurorte = water therapy resorts), Seaside resorts (Seebäder), Climatic resorts (Luftkurorte), and Recreation resorts (Erholungsorte). The largest and most well known resorts also have casinos, most notably at Bad Wiessee, Baden-Baden (Kurhaus), Wiesbaden (Kurhaus), Aachen, Travemünde and Westerland (Kurhaus).

Regions

         The most visited tourist regions in Germany are the East Frisian and North Frisian Islands, the Baltic Sea coasts of Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the Upper Middle Rhine Valley, the Bavarian and Black Forest, and the Bavarian Alps.

  Theme routes

     Since the 1930s, local and regional governments have set up various theme routes, to help visitors get to know a specific region and its cultural or scenic qualities. The table below shows some of the most prominent theme routes. Other popular German theme routes include parts of the European Route of Brick Gothic and European Route of Industrial Heritage, the Harz-Heide Road, Bertha Benz Memorial Route and Bergstrasse.

  Winter sport

         The main winter sport regions in Germany are the Northern Limestone Alps and Ore Mountains, Harz, Fichtelgebirge and Bayerischer Wald of the Central Uplands (Mittelgebirge). First class winter sport infrastructure is available for alpine skiing and snowboarding, bobsledding and cross-country skiing.

          In most regions, winter sports are limited to the winter months November to February. During the Advent season, many German towns and cities host Christmas markets.

Cities

        In terms of numbers of overnight stays, travel to the twelve largest cities in Germany more than doubled between 1995 and 2005, the largest increase of any travel destination. This increase mainly arises from growth of cultural tourism, often in conjunction with educational or business travel. Consequently, the provision and supply of more and higher standards of cultural, entertainment, hospitality, gastronomic, and retail services also attract more international guests.

         The table below shows the ten most visited cities in Germany in 2009, and a comparison with 2008. Other cities and towns with over 1 million nights per year are Hanover, Rostock, Bremen, Cuxhaven, Bonn, Freiburg im Breisgau, Münster, Lübeck and Essen.

       In Germany can be found all kind of natural scenes, from the majesty of the Black Forest to the rustic beauty of the North coasts. And as for its cities, centre of the culture and the German life, mixture of the modernity of the skyscrapers and the tradition of cuckoo clocks and löden coats, everything with frothy beer.

Berlin 
            The force and the success of Prussia are shown in Berlin, one of the most fascinating cities of the world, which has lived many conflicts throughout history. Since the strategic importance that it acquired in the 13th century, when a bridge was constructed on the Spree River, Berlin didn’t have as much attention as during the 20th century. It is the heart of Germany, and its importance is reflected in its public buildings, museums and theaters, as well as in its restaurants and elegant nightclubs. The Berliner cultural life enjoys a matchless vitality and prestige, by its modern and numerous constructions, festivals, celebrations and outdoors concerts. At the present time, the city is the epicenter of the transcendental project of reunification.  
Munich

          Beyond the beer and sausages, Munich appears like a cosmopolitan city, characteristic of the European continent. Its inhabitants can enjoy different attractions, from the vertiginous elegance of its great boulevards to the traditional dances, such as the oompah. This city has an intoxicating mixture of glamour and abandonment; it has multiple theaters, good museums and numerous gardens, and naturally, countless breweries. 
         It is recommendable to visit the Deutsches Museum, where the main sample of science and technology of the world is shown, with interactive activities and attractive demonstrations of the human inventions, from the mining to the observation of stars. The Englischer Garten is one of the biggest urban parks of Europe; it is possible to walk by its footpaths, enjoy the streams, cross its bridges and delight with the swans.  
         From Munich many other trips can be made: for example, to the Bavarian Alps, very attractive if the day is clear; or to the Romantic highway, that connects typical towns of the western zone of Bavaria. Munich constitutes an important axis of transports and it is communicated regularly with the rest of Germany and Prague, to the Northeast, and Rome, to the South.

Frankfurt 
          Frankfurt on the Main, so called to distinguish it of Frankfurt an der Oder, has become the financial and geographic centre of West Germany. One big part of the country’s wealth comes from its inhabitants, and near 10% of the taxes of the city is destined to culture. It is a city full of museums. The Städel Museum lodges a magnificent work collection from the Renaissance to the 20th century; between the great Old Masters, the visitor can enjoys Dürer, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Monet, Van Gogh, Cézanne, Picasso, Matisse, Bacon, Baselitz and Serra. The Museum of Modern Art offers an interesting selection of Pop Art pieces, with works of Lichtenstein, Warhol and Wesselmann, among others, pieces of contemporary art –belonging to veteran and new creators–, as well as artists who have followed the project during many years, like Gerhard Richter, Bernd and Hilla Becher and On Kawara. The musical panorama of Frankfurt is very animated, and jazz outstands by its quality. The local drink, denominated Ebbelweï, is an extremely strong sort of cider, very well-known everywhere in the world. By this metropolis pass about 1.500 trains per day, what makes possible the communication with any point of the country. 
        One hour away from the north of the city the charming city of Marburg rises, an animated university population where diverse cafeterias have been open and follow the present tendencies. Also a lot of pubs located in the admirable spotted streets.  
Heidelberg

              Tourist city par excellence, Heidelberg has a magnificent castle of gothic-Renaissance style. This beautiful city receives four million visitors per year in spite of its lack of cheap lodgings and the high prices of its restaurants. It is inevitable to feel the romantic attraction of the castle, and it is possible to ran away from the hordes of tourists walking by some of the footpaths that cross hills of the environs and enjoying its landscape. If one takes a walk by the streets of the suburbs it is possible to run into with some place where to pass hours in a cafeteria next to poets and other 
personalities. Heidelberg benefits from the frequent railway connections with Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Munich, and other destinies. 
Lübeck

             In Schleswig-Holstein, located in the north of Germany, is Lübeck, an extraordinary medieval city. Although it is easy to reach from Hamburg, it is separated from the main tourist routes and can be a good and calm alternative to the massive attractions that the South offers. In 1987 it was declared Patrimony of the Humanity by the UNESCO. Although it was completely bombed during Second World War, Lübeck has been reconstructed with success and it conserves all his enchantment, specially the historical center, formed in its majority by aristocratic residences of XV and XVI centuries, public monuments , churches and salt warehouses. Lübeck is filled with places where to lodge by a reasonable price and also enjoys a good variety of economic restaurants. In Lübeck is the charming Marionettentheater , marionette theater, that it is worth while to visit. Inside the Marienkirche (church of Saint Mary), a hard memory of the war can be contemplated: the bells of the church crashed against the stone ground as a result of a bombing, the inhabitants have maintained fragments right where they fell, with a small signboard that says: "In signal of protest against the war and the violence".  
Tübingen 
         This particular and beautiful university town is 35 km away from south of Stuttgart, and constitute a superb occasion to walk by bordered avenues full of houses of wood and old stone walls. From the top of the Renaissance castle of Hohentübingen (that at the moment is part of the University), it is possible to enjoy magnificent panoramic views of the red roofs, which are characteristic of the old town. At the present time, the students continue to postulate with pride the rigorous liberal and intellectual tradition of this university. The market, full of fruits and vegetables, surprise by its beauty, and any products that are on sale could be part of some of the meals that the visitor eats in the local restaurants. 
Frisan Islands 
      Located in the North West coast of Germany, the Frisian Islands reward who have made the effort to get there. Great part of this zone belongs to a national park. It is recommended to avoid Sylt, jammed with tourists in search of beaches, and to follow towards Föhr or Amrum, both calmer, less touristic and that have other attractiveness like magnificent views with sun rays on the icy North Sea, the strolls by their footpaths and to ride by bicycle or horse by the environs. Out to sea it appears Heligoland, a visit can be organized like one amusing trip of one or two days. The island was used as a submarine base during World War II, and at the present time it is possible to visit the fireproof bunkers and the underground tunnels. 
Harz Mountains 
        Known mainly by German and Scandinavians, the Harz mountains appear in Lower Saxony, and it is possible to arrive by train from the South tourist centers. Although Harz Mountains do not have peaks and valleys so pronounced as the Alps, they offer several sport activities throughout the year without the tourist overpopulation of the Alps. The Harz Natural Park has adapted to the hikers maintaining all its beauty. The zone is popular between the cycling fans, in spite of having to share some of the winding mountain road with all-terrain vehicles, so that it is recommendable to study the maps before going over there . To the down skiers, the Harz mountains can seem relatively boring; nevertheless, in the zone the cross-country skiing is practice, also by many of its visitors.

Greece Tourism

         Greece mainland and the Greek islands are one of the favorite holiday destinations in Europe. In fact, Greece comes in the 15th place in the world rating of tourist destinations, since, according to the National Statistical Service of Greece, it receives more than 15 million tourists every year, after countries such as the USA, China, Spain and Great Britain. 
          Most tourists come to Greece from Europe, especially the EU countries, and from the USA, while fewer originate from the other continents. In 1989 and 1991, approximately 90% of the tourists to Greece were Europeans, in particular German and British citizens. Until the mid-1990s, the tourism flow in Greece would not surpass 8 or 9 million; however, 1994 was a determinant year for Greek tourism because more than 10 million people chose Greece and the wonderful Greek islands to spend their summer vacations. 
           Greece is a famous country, popular for its clean beaches and its long history. There are hundreds of archaeological and historical sites to visit in Greece that gloriously depict the country’s past. Its landscape is mainly mountainous and the terrain is not very fertile, except for some valleys scattered along the Greek mainland. However, Greece is surrounded by water, in particular the Aegean and the Ionian Sea. The country consists of more than 1,400 islands and islets, but only 169 of them are inhabited. 
These Greek islands form, one by one, a beauty of nature. They are the most popular Greek destinations, especially in summer. Big or tiny, green or infertile, ideal for cosmopolitan or relaxing vacations, one thing is for sure: all these islands have the necessary requirements and facilities to offer you memorable vacations! 
         Mykonos, with its cosmopolitan character; Santorini, with the most romantic sunset in the world; Rhodes, the island of the medieval castles, the sun and the butterflies; Crete, with its revolutionary spirit; Ios, with the wild nightlife; Corfu, with its Venetian style; Ithaca, the homeland of Ulysses; Samos, the greenest of all Greek islands; Skiathos, with its long and sandy beaches; all these constitute just a few examples of the most famous Greek paradises. 
        The Greek tourism started flourishing in the late 1960s and particularly in the early 1970s. The first Greek hotel unit was created in 1968 in Agios Nikolaos, Lasithi, Crete and since then many accommodation options have made their appearance all along Greece. In a slow but stable pace, Greece has today managed to become one of the most favorite tourist destinations among Europeans, Asians and Americans. It is worth mentioning that, according to surveys, the Chinese and the Austrians vote for Greece as the best holiday spot ever!! 
        The peak season for Greek tourism lasts from May to September, since the third-quarters of the tourism flow choose this time of year to come to Greece. The sunny weather, warm beaches and variable landscapes invite people from all over the world to experience the Greek hospitality and peaceful way of life. 
        The income from tourism constitutes a large part of the Greek economy. Many new jobs have been created and business has been supported, through setting up numerous gift shops in each area. 
         A special interest is also given to promote, apart from summer holidays, winter tourist resorts, therapeutic spas, ecotourism, working holidays and discovery holidays.  
General Greece Tourist Information  
General Info about Greece  
         Greece is a country unique of beauty that has everything to  
offer to the visitor who wants to make tourism: beautiful and variable landscapes, some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, picturesque whitepainted or stone-built villages, passionate culture and traditions and, a heavy history, archaeology and mythology heritage. Greece is also called Ellas or Hellada or Elliniki Dimocratia (Hellenic Republic). 
 
Geography 
          It is a peninsular and mountainous country situated in southern Europe, and it is bordered by the Aegean Sea, the Ionian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It has borders with Albania, Turkey, Bulgaria and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and it is the only country of the EU that doesn’t have any border with the other members. 
        Greece has a total area of 130.800 square km and one fifth of the area is represented by the large number of islands. In fact, Greece has more than 1400 islands, but only 169 out of them are inhabited. The majority of the islands are scattered in the Aegean Sea between Greece and Turkey. 
          Greece has a population of 10,610,000 (2000) of which 3.7 million are concentrated in Athens, the country’s capital. 
Politics  
        Greece is a parliamentary republic with a president at the head of the state. The actual head of government is the Prime Minister Karamanlis and the chief of state is the President Konstandinos Stephanopoulos. 
Economy 
        Greece is one of the poorest countries of the European Union. It is an agricultural country. 22% of the workforce is employed for agriculture, 27% in the industry sector and 50 % in the services. Tourism and shipping is the biggest economical contributor of Greece.

          Greece attracts more than 16 million tourists each year, thus contributing 15% to the nation's Gross Domestic Product. Greece has been an attraction for international visitors since antiquity for its rich and long history, Mediterranean coastline and beaches. In 2005, 6,088,287 tourists alone visited the city of Athens, the capital city.

      In 2008, the country welcomed over 16.5 million tourists. 

      According to a survey conducted in China in 2005, Greece was voted as the Chinese people's number one choice as a tourist destination. In November 2006, Austria, like China, announced that Greece was the favourite tourist destination for its citizens. In line with these observations, Greece's former Minister of Tourism Aris Spiliotopoulos announced the opening of a GNTO office in Shanghai until 2010.

  Economic impact

       At the same time, tourism consumption increased considerably since the turn of the millennium, from US$ 17.7 bn. in 2000 to US$ 29.6 bn. in 2004. The numbers of jobs directly or indirectly related to the tourism sector were 659,719 and represented 16.5% of the country's total employment for that year.

Infrastructure

         Tourism infastructure in Greece has been greatly improved since the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and continues to expand with a number of important projects particularly in areas of less mass-tourism.

  Marinas

         Greece has 51 marinas and 14,661 mooring places that provide such services as berths, fuel, water and electricity, telephony, and repairs. Some of the most developed and busiest marinas in Greece are just a few kilometres from the centre of Athens. The marinas of Alimos and Flisvos, on the south coast of Athens, have an aggregated capacity of more than 1,800 vessels.

Spas and thermal springs

       Greece has 752 thermosprings. Many have been classified as therapeutic by the National Institute for Geographical and Mineral Research.

Conference facilities

         Conference tourism, targeted at academic, business, or cultural markets is a cornerstone of the Greek national tourism policy. As a result, the Greek government, with strong support from local authorities, has been offering lucrative cash grants, leasing and employment subsidies and tax allowances to establish new conference facilities and expand existing ones. In a recent report in Meeting and Incentive Travel, Greece was ranked eighth in the world in overnight stays for conferences. Figures from the Tourism Satellite Accounting Research, conducted by WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council) project a worldwide increase in revenues in business travel to Greece from US $1.51 bn. in 2001 to US $2.69 bn. in 2011. In 1998, the figure stood at US $1.18 bn.

Promoting Greek tourism

     The government intends to promote winter tourism in Greece, which could potentially increase international arrivals even further.

      Tourism in Greece is run by the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) who used Helena Paparizou, a famous Greek singer who won Eurovision Song Contest in 2005 as an ambassador. Singer Sakis Rouvas, who represented Greece in the 2009 Eurovision song contest is currently the ambassador for Greek Tourism. The new logo of the Greek National Tourism Organisation consists of nine circles, which symbolize the nine new kinds of tourism that should be promoted to combat the tourism sector's seasonality. The new logo's slogan is "Greece, the true experience", which shows that the marketing campaign is nowadays directed towards experience seekers and not just mass tourism.

       The drawback of the new logo is that at a first glance it cannot be associated with Greece. The advertisements displayed in the GNTO's web-site still focus on the triptych of sea, sun and sand. However, the tourism campaign is undergoing a significant change as city-breaks and conference tourism are promoted, along with cultural and wellness tourism. The impact of the new campaign will hopefully result in increased tourist revenues.

Tourism in Sweden

         Sweden is mostly visited by tourists from its neighbouring countries Denmark, Norway and Finland. Thereafter follow tourists from Germany and the United Kingdom.

          A popular route for German tourists is to go by train from southern Sweden, through the European routes, up to Sweden's northern parts. Attractions along the way are historical, natural and cultural.

According to the CIA World Factbook, Sweden is the 21st most visited country in the world, with 7,627,000 arrivals in 2006.

Swedish nature

        In the summer the sun hardly not even sets in Sweden, especially in the far north where it does not set at all. This allows activity until late in the evening, or even through the night.

       Sweden has a large number of lakes and forests, and it is very good for fishing and canoeing. There are several large lakes, including lakes Vättern and Vänern. Walking is quite a popular activity in the summer. There are no very high mountains in Sweden, so climbing is somewhat limited. The highest mountain is Kebnekaise near Kiruna. Kebnekaise is 6926 ft, 2111 metres high.

        The Göta Canal from Stockholm to Gothenburg provides some good trips in the summer. Swedish horse racing is a little unusual, in that many races are actually trotting races. The horses are not allowed to gallop, and they pull a small trap with the racer on.

Northern Sweden and winter sports

     In the winter, the ICEHOTEL is built every year near the northern town of Kiruna. Kiruna is also a good place from which to see the Aurora Borealis or Northern lights. Tourists in the north of the country in winter often enjoy trips in reindeer sleighs with Sami drivers, or in dog sleighs.

      It is also possible to ski, with downhill resorts at Åre and Vemdalen, and many cross country ski tracks throughout the northern part of the country. Vasaloppet in the beginning of March is the oldest, longest and largest cross-country ski race in the world. Ice hockey is a popular sport in winter. Many of the bays in the northern part of the country are frozen in winter, and it is possible to go ice yachting, or ice skating on the ice. Many lakes are also frozen, so ice fishing (pimpelfiske) is quite popular.

Cities

        Most Swedish cities are small compared to other European cities such as those in the United Kingdom and Germany. The largest city is Stockholm, with approx. 802,000 inhabitants, followed by Gothenburg with 493,000 and Malmö with 270,000.

        Stockholm has been Sweden's capital since at least the 14th century. It is Sweden's metropolis, the centre of the parliament, government and media. Not only is its waterfront and adjacent Stockholm Archipelago one of a kind, but the old parts of Stockholm with its history and culture are spectacular in their own kind. 
        Gothenburg is a relatively recently built city dating from the 17th century, and is visited for its beauty, attractions, friendliness and shopping opportunities. According to a recent survey of Swedish media, Gothenburg was voted the most popular major city in Sweden. More than 60% of all Swedes would like to live in Gothenburg, which has a reputation of being even friendlier and more welcoming than the Swedish capital.

           Malmö has recently emerged as the eastern part of the Oresund region, tied together with Copenhagen, Denmark, through the impressive Oresund Bridge. During the last 15 years, Malmö has been focusing more on culture, as it previously had a solid reputation as a working class city. The twisted skyscraper Turning Torso has become the new landmark, replacing the ship-crane at Kockums. Both Malmo and Gothenburg are hosting the Uefa U21 European Championships this summer

Other cities have solid places in Sweden's history:

• Uppsala became the seat of the Archbishop of Sweden in 1167, with Sweden's and Scandinavia's largest church building Uppsala Cathedral inaugurated in the 1440s. Uppsala also became the center of education in Sweden with the Uppsala University founded in 1477.
• Lund was among the cities belonging to Denmark until 1658. Previously, it had been the seat of Denmark's archbishop, in the city of Lund. In 1666, Lund was granted Sweden's second university, the Lund University, Scandinavia's largest.

Transportation

          The Swedish rail system is called SJ offering slower-speed trains throughout the country and the faster X2000 trains connecting the major cities. Connection by rail is possible to Norway, Denmark and to Finland by bus, due to rail gauge differences. It's possible to take the Silja and Viking Line boats from Stockholm to Helsinki, Finland, Rostock, Germany or Mariehamn island. Scandinavian Airlines System and other airlines provides access by air for longer trips.

Positioning tourism on the climate change agenda 

Madrid, Spain 07 December 2010  

            As negotiations at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP16) are held in Mexico, the role of tourism in combating global warming should once again be highlighted. A COP16 side-event, organized jointly by the Ministry of Tourism of Mexico and UNWTO, ‘Tourism’s response to climate change: What’s next? has outlined the progress made by the sector to mitigate its impact and adapt to one of today’s biggest challenges (Cancun, Mexico, 6 December). Opening the event, Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderón, stated that, “tourism is perfectly compatible with the environment,” and that focus must be placed on tourism’s ‘environmental calling’”.

       President Felipe Calderón, stressed that economic growth need not come at the expense of environmental decline, highlighting tourism as a sector able to provide growth and jobs while mitigating and adapting to climate change.  
       “Our natural resources can and should coexist with tourism,” said Mexico’s Minsiter of Tourism, Gloria Guevara, addressing participants. Ms. Guevara pointed to Mexico as a country whose rich natural resources sustain a large part of its tourism activity, in turn representing “9% of Mexico’s GDP and over seven million direct and indirect jobs”. There must be no delay in protecting this biological diversity, for its own sake, but also to maintain tourism’s socio-economic contribution, she said.         
       The side-event, organized by the Ministry of Tourism of Mexico and UNWTO, presented the work undertaken so far by the tourism public and private sectors to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, promote adaption in tourism businesses and destinations, invest in new technologies and support developing countries through financing. In particular, participants underlined the vulnerability of certain tourism destinations in developing countries to the devastating impacts of climate change, ranging from rising sea levels and the destruction of coral reefs, to the loss of basic tourism services such as water supply and food security. 
       Recalling the importance of taking a global approach towards tourism, aviation and climate change, UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai said “developing destinations, highly dependent on international tourism for income and jobs, would be doubly affected, given their distance to major markets and limited domestic markets, if exposed to increasingly stringent emissions policy on aviation. We are particularly concerned about the potential duplication of taxation on emissions on travel, namely on air transport”.  
        International air transport has been singled out for separate mitigation treatment under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It is crucial to consider that any mitigation measures adopted in this respect will significantly impact the tourism sector as a whole, particularly developing countries. 
         Against this background, UNWTO highlighted its work with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), to address aviation emissions at the global level and Hotel Energy Solutions, a project aimed at increasing energy efficiency and renewable energy use in small and medium hotels.  

UNWTO conference to further knowledge management within the tourism sector 

Madrid, Spain 06 December 2010  

       Knowledge management has become an essential instrument for developing effective tourism strategies; particularly important for strengthening the sector’s ability to respond to current global challenges, from the economic crisis to climate change. Against this background, UNWTO, Tourism Portugal and the University of the Algarve are organizing a conference on ‘Tourism and Science: Bridging Theory and Practice’, to advance a global knowledge management framework for tourism (Faro, Portugal, 1-3 June 2011).

       The Conference on “Tourism and Science: Bridging Theory and Practice’ will focus on three main areas:

1. The role of science and technology (energy, computing, communications and new technologies) in the future of tourism;

2. How innovation can increase the competitiveness and sustainability of the sector, attract new consumers and generate new business models;

3. The function of knowledge in tourism governance and institutional excellence.

        The Conference will establish guidelines for the future work of the new UNWTO Knowledge Network; designed to develop and manage a worldwide association of UNWTO Think Tanks, UNWTO Knowledge Strategic Centres and UNWTO Knowledge Institutions. The Network will support UNWTO and its Member States in all matters concerning science, technology, innovation and knowledge management related to tourism and will be launched by the UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, at the international tourism trade fair, FITUR (Madrid, Spain, 19 January).

        The rationale behind the Conference is the recognition that the effective and productive management of knowledge of a variety of areas, ranging from transportation and the distribution of goods and services to energy conservation and sustainability, is a critical factor for the success of tourism policies. Knowledge management - the process of identifying, capturing, sharing and applying knowledge to improve performance - is of great interest for all those working in tourism, as well as the numerous sectors it impacts given its transversal nature. 

        The event is open to international organizations, businesses, academia and all those interested in innovation and knowledge management in tourism, as well as agencies specialized in economic development, climate change and governance.  

Yogyakarta in Indonesia welcomes back tourists following volcanic eruption

Madrid, Spain 08 December 2010  

        The Indonesian city of Yogyakarta and surrounding areas are safe and fully accessible for tourists following the eruption of the nearby Mount Merapi volcano last October. Most of the tourist infrastructure has not been affected by the eruption and the rapid response of the Indonesian authorities and the international community has allowed for a quick return to normality. UNWTO has been in close contact with the Indonesian Ministry of Culture and Tourism to minimize the impact on the region’s tourism sector.

         “I was happy to see that tourism infrastructure is intact and that no more ash can be seen or perceived in the air,” said UNWTO Executive Director, Márcio Favilla visiting the region. “Yogyakarta is ready to welcome back tourists. This was clearly evidenced by the successful holding this week of the World Conference on Culture, Education and Science which I attended”, he added.

         UNWTO could confirm that basic infrastructure, including hotels, restaurants and roads, is intact and that Yogyakarta’s Adi Sucipto international airport is open and fully operational. The World Conference on Culture, Education and Science, for example, took place in Yogyakarta with the presence of over 800 participants from some 20 different countries (5-8 December).