Will we be going to the London World Travel Market?
ATHENS.The Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) hasn΄t yet paid for the space where its booth will be set up.
The revelation of the procurement of expensive carpets to enhance the appearance of the Ministry of Tourism’s offices by Olga Kefalogianni overshadowed another piece of news yesterday, one perhaps more relevant to the tourism sector of Greece. The phones remained tightly shut all day, like Nicole Kidman’s eyes in the movie of the same name, possibly out of fear of pesky journalists. “We came for the carpets, etc., in jest,” they remarked.
As a result, the news remains pending: roughly 40 days before the start of this year's World Travel Market exhibition in London, the Greek National Tourism Organisation’s (GNTO) participation has yet to be confirmed, despite the fact that the reservation for the exhibition space has already been made. The employees are unable to provide an explanation for the situation, which is unofficially attributed to the delay in funding from the Ministry of Tourism to GNTO for this purpose. In fact, the organisation’s calendar, which lists the exhibitions in which it will participate, mentions those in October and December, but not the one in November, which is when the WTM in London takes place!
All of this would simply be another demonstration of the monumental Greek tendency towards delays, of minor significance, if it weren't for the complications it creates for those wishing to co-exhibit with GNTO at its booth and no one can assure them that they will be able to do so. As a result, they are now seeking alternative ways to participate in the exhibition—something that is neither easy to arrange at this point nor affordable, especially given the last-minute costs of exhibition spaces.
GIORGOS KATSAITIS
