Presentation of the updated study on Athenian Tourism by the City of Athens Tourism and Economic Development Company

The City of Athens Tourism and Economic Development Company (ATEDCo) in order to operate the Centre for Athenian Tourism and the permanent monitoring of the capital's tourist figures, worked for the 2nd time with the University of the Aegean, which updated the results of the previous study which was held in 2008.

The new study entitled "Study on the Progress and Prospects of Tourism in Athens and Attica ' was held on behalf of ATEDCo by the Tourism Research and Study Centre of the Department of Business Administration at the University of the Aegean in 2010. A full analysis of these developments was conducted by six studies that explored the themes of tourism and seasonality in hotel accommodation in Athens and Attica, the hotel capital of Athens and Attica, the ranking of the European cities with the number of conferences and the position of Athens at the International conference market, index REVPAR as well as the visitors of the museums and the archaeological sites.

In addition, the study also includes primary research with findings among hotels in Athens and Attica, in order to obtain a fuller picture of the state of tourism in Athens and Attica.

In conclusion, the study suggested specific strategies in order to mitigate the negative impact of the current situation and exploit the opportunities that exist in the international tourism market for the benefit of tourism businesses in Athens and Attica and the Greek economy as well. The study also approached practical issues such as the tourism image of Athens in the international media and achieving synergies through "Kallikrates".

Moreover, with regard to the effective tourism development and promotion of Athens, the study focuses on the need for a framework of partnership and a more favorable combination of local forces, which will contribute to the common effort to attract tourists. To achieve this strategy ATEDCo, according to the group of scholars, seems to be the most appropriate implementing agency of this project, as it is the best organized and the best staffed organization in Greece and can deliver integrated tourism marketing activities, not only for the City of Athens but for Attica as well.

The study was prepared by a scientific team of the University of Aegean, led by Dr. Andreas Papatheodorou, Dr. Dimitris Koutoulas, Dr. Paris Tsartas and Dimitris Lagos.

For more information:
Kalliopi Andriopoulou
T. 210 3253123
F. 210 3216653
kandriopoulou@atedco.gr