ITB Berlin Opens, Greece Optimistic for 2015 Tourism Season

Greece will aim this year to win more visitors from Western Europe, the Unites States and Germany, Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura told the press on Wednesday, the opening day for ITB Berlin.
The minister visited the Greek stand and wished all tourism professionals and regional bodies a successful tourism season.
 
While in Berlin, the tourism minister’s agenda includes meetings with the Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization Taleb Rifai, Berlin Mayor Michael Muller, major tour operators and travel journalists.
Greece is enjoying its tourism recovery at ITB Berlin 2015. According to market research institute GfK, year-to-date bookings for 2015 to Greece from Germany, by end of January 2015, were up by 12.8 percent compared to the same period last year.
 Meanwhile, TUI revealed that it was experiencing good sales for Greece and German tour operator Schauinsland-Reisen also said that Greece was selling particularly well this year.
Greece hit record arrivals last year — a 23 percent increase in tourism arrivals over 2013 — and even better is expected for this season, tourism professionals underline.
“Early bookings and the increase in scheduled flights to Greece indicate that the 24.5 million visitors that Greece welcomed in 2014 –- including 2.5 million cruise ships arrivals –- will be surpassed this year,” said Andreas Andreadis, president of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) during a press conference.
 
Some 70 Greek enterprises are participating as co-exhibitors at the Greek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) stand.
ITB Berlin will run until March 8.
More than 10,000 exhibitors from around 190 countries and regions are presenting their innovative products and services in the 26 display halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Over 100,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the world’s largest travel trade show in order find out about all the tourism industry’s products and services at this year’s event.
(source:gtp)

The Fortezza of Rethymno, Crete

Fortezza is Rethymno’s landmark and its most important monument, built in the late 16th century in order to reinforce the city’s defense..

 
The Venetian Fortrezza of Rethymno is almost at the center of the picturesque old town, offering panoramic views of the Cretan harbour-city.
One theory suggests that the hill on which it is built was once, possibly millennia ago, an island linked to the mainland by a narrow strip of land. The hill of Paleokastro (Old Castle) was probably the site of the acropolis of ancient Rithymna with its Temple of Apollo and a sanctuary of Artemis, though this hasn’t been proven.
(source:ptotothema)

Traditional Greek recipe: Octopus stewed in red wine.

This traditional Greek recipe produces a delicious octopus stew with a piquant red wine sauce.
 
This traditional Greek recipe produces a delicious octopus stew with a piquant red wine sauce.
Ingredients
1 octopus (about 1 ½ kilo)
4 cloves garlic
3 bay leaves
1 wine glass of olive oil
1 wine glass of sweet wine from Lemnos
1 wine glass of vinegar
1 wine glass of dry red wine
Coarse ground pepper
Preparation method
Step 1
Make sure the octopus is thoroughly cleaned. Place the whole octopus in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Cover with the lid and put a weight on top to prevent the evaporation of the fluids. Cook for half an hour.
Step 2
Add the garlic, the bay leaves and the olive oil. Then, add the vinegar, the dry wine and, finally, the sweet wine. Bring the ingredients to a good boil.
Step 3
Cover again the lid, lower the heat and simmer the octopus for about 1 hour, until tender and until the sauce thickens. Before serving, sprinkle with plenty of pepper.

Source: Olive magazine
Chef: Ilias Mamalakis
Photo: George Drakopoulos 
Food Styling: Tina Webb

Russians Place Greece Among Top 3 Favorite Destinations

Greece was ranked third in the leading destinations selected by Russian tourists for their trips abroad in 2014, recording a 17 percent drop compared to 2013, according to the Russian Federation’s Federal Agency for Tourism (Rosturizm).
 The almost 50 percent plunge in the rate of the ruble is seen as leading to the decline in travel as Russian spending power dropped by 28 percent last year.
(Read more:gtp)

Dollar-Euro Exchange Rate Key to More Tourists from US

The number of American tourists opting to visit Greece this year is expected to rise in large part due to the appreciation of the US dollar against the euro, tourism experts said during the 2015 New York Times Travel Show, which took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center this weekend.
Describing 2015 as a golden year for Greece, Consul General in New York, George Eliopoulos underlined the importance of the NYT travel report and added that there is great room for optimism, particularly due to the fact that the dollar has strengthened relative to the euro, making Greece an even more attractive destination.
Citing an increased number in pre-bookings of package tours, Mr Eliopoulos added: “The average American tourist spends more money on holidays than his European counterpart.”
“The messages are particularly promising for this year. If this trend continues, Greece will become a highly competitive product in relation to other destinations,” he concluded.
(source:gtp)

Lufthansa airlines: direct flights to Crete this summer

German Lufthansa airline has announced earlier this week that a new direct flight to Crete will be launched this summer.
More specifically, a flight connecting Munich to Heraklion in Crete will be operated once a week, starting from May 23, 2015.

 “Greece has always been a key market in the region, proving that even in a difficult financial environment, numbers remain strong and show positive signs of even better results,” said the announcement of the company.

Special dakos from Crete!

A traditional meze or light meal on the island of Crete, dakos is easy to make as it requires no cooking.
  
Serves: 1 Preparation time: 5m Cooking time: 0m Ready in: 5m


A traditional meze or light meal on the island of Crete, dakos is easy to make as it requires no cooking
Ingredients
One round barley rusk
1 medium ripe tomato
Olive oil
Vinegar
Some fresh basil, finely chopped
Xynomyzithra cheese
Some samphire
A few capers and caper leaves
Black salted olives
Salt
Preparation method
Step 1
Grate the tomato, add salt, a little olive oil, a few drops of vinegar and mix well.
Step 2
Place the barley rusk on a plate, cover it with the grated tomato and sprinkle with the chopped basil.
Step 3
Add the Xynomyzithra on top of the tomato and then the samphire.
Step 4
Decorate the dish with the capers, the caper leaves and the olives and drizzle with olive oil.
Source: Olive magazine
Chef: Dimitris Skarmoutsos

lonelyplanet: Best places to stay in Crete, Greece.

'Crete has all types of places to unpack your suitcase – hostels, campgrounds and family hotels, rural villas and hotels (agrotourism), apartments and luxury resorts. Good-value accommodation abounds, especially in the south and inland villages.'
 

Plakias Suites, is one of them!

'Where you stay is one of the most important decisions to make when planning a holiday to Crete.'

 

 'Rethymno has some quieter getaways, plus Crete’s longest sandy beach; it’s a good base if you want to immerse yourself in the island’s culture.'

(Full article: Lonelyplanet)

New in Plakias Suites, Korres Amenities!

 http://www.plakiassuites.com/

Hello Spring!

The outstanding natural beauty of spring in Crete reaches its maximum during the months of March, April and May, ideal for those with special interests in bird watching and wildlife. Spring in Crete also boasts opportunities for those with particular interests in mountaineering, archaeology and walking.
Spring in Crete continues to attract thousands of tourists each year, due to the temperature, climate and serenity of this popular Greek island...

http://www.plakiassuites.com/

Photo of the Day...

Plakias is 35 kilometres south of Rethymno, on the southern coast of Crete on the Libyan Sea and is a popular tourist resort well-known for its award-winning Blue Flag sandy beach stretching for 1400 metres.