While the international cruise industry benefits the EU economy by an annual total of more than
€
19bn, Greece, in spite of her historic role in cruising and all her strengths both as a destination and
as a highly strategic hub, barely manages to collect a tiny percentage of the benefits that come from
international cruising. In fact, compared to the achievements of other Med countries like Italy and
Spain, she appears isolated and very out of sync. On the basis of this logic, the Hellenic Association
of Tourist and Travel Agents (HATTA) came together with the Seatrade Organisation to make the
CruiseinGreece Conference possible. The event will be held at the Grande Bretagne Hotel, Athens
June 25-27
will bring together high level executives specialising in itinerary design and destination
delivery from all major international cruise lines who will participate both as panelists and in the
workshops, in an interactive exchange of practical new ideas, views and information between the
cruise industry and Greek destinations. Among the goals of the conference is to present Greece's
great variety of both developed and potential cruise ports, as new and exciting options for future
itinerary planning. Equally important is to achieve a better all around understanding as to the terms
and conditions that would encourage cruise lines to augment their presence in Greek waters and
include more Greek ports in their itineraries. In essence, this conference is a creative forum where
new itinerary design ideas and shore excursion propositions will be exchanged. For delegates who
book a workshop table, it will also be an opportunity to present their specific destinations, their
tourism services and excursion capabilities, their infrastructure and special attractions and their
future development plans. Further information: HATTA, Greece, Tel: 210 9223 522.