Business tourism represents one of the strongest market segments in global travel
Business tourism represents one of the strongest market segments in global travel today. Conference tourism is growing at an annual rate exceeding 5% and Greece is well positioned to benefit from this expanding trend. Today, Greece is positioning itself at the heart of the conference and congress market.and.expects.to.enjoy.a.2.5%.share.of.the.global.market,.up.from.its.current.0.8%.stake.
The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) places Athens in 15th position as a global conference destination (2008), up ten places over 2007, when Greek venues hosted more than 155,000 conference and congress delegates and the market had revenues of more than 450 million Euro.
Business.Tourism
Greece is the ideal location for conventions, business conferences and meetings. Combining excellent conference facilities with unique museums, archaeological sites, shopping and nightlife, Greece provides more than 50 independent conference centres and roughly 300 hotels offer a full range of conference.facilities.
The major increase in conference tourism provides significant opportunities for large-scale as well as niche and boutique market venues. Today, tourism in Greece accounts for almost 20% of GDP and a well-established tourism infrastructure caters to the needs of more than 17 million visitors.
Magical.Destinations
Greece is an ideal destination for the conference market, whose events often occur well beyond the traditional tourism season. The synergies of the country’s developed leisure tourism sector perfectly complement the conference market, especially in absorbing off-peak capacity. In addition, dedicated and purpose-built conference venues are needed in numerous locations throughout Greece.
Greece’s experienced human resources in the tourism market provide professional and cost-effective services.to.conference.organisers.
An added advantage is the strong and growing domestic market. Greece’s professional communities are now holding hundreds of conferences each year and the demand for high-quality venues is expanding.rapidly.
Greece’s spectacular locations, be they seaside settings, mountain getaways, or urban venues, provide countless cultural, recreational, or leisure attractions for delegates as well as their spouses and families. And Greece’s Mediterranean climate is suitable for events year-round. Good accessibility and superb air, sea, and land connections make a variety of sites attractive.
Mainland,.Islands,.Mountains
Both independent conference centres and hotel facilities offer a wide variety of venue choices. The primary destinations include the cities of Athens and Thessaloniki and the island/seaside locations of Rhodes, Corfu, Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Skiathos, Kos, and Halkidiki. It is estimated that Greece can.benefit.from.far.more.capacity.than.exists.today.
A low crime rate, renowned hospitality, and spectacular natural resources make Greece an ideal destination.for.meetings.of.every.kind.
Many attractive areas, available for development, are suitable as ideal venues at this high-yield end of the tourism spectrum. Business tourism has a high delegate spend, with multipliers into many economic sectors. In addition to hotel accommodations and conference services, the sector supports foreign and domestic travel and transport, food and beverage, entertainment and recreation, shopping and.gift.buying,.and.related.services.
Although Greece is positioned high in global conference destination rankings, it has a clear need for high-capacity, high-end venues that can benefit strongly from the complementary characteristics of the.tourism.market.
Conferences at unique locations, such as the medieval town of Rhodes, respond to the trend for events to be at venues with multiple benefits: superb facilities, outstanding locations, and a wide range.of.leisure.attractions.
Advantages.of.Investing.in.Conference.Centers
-..Priority.sector.of.the.Greek.government
-..Ideally.positioned.to.gain.significant.market.share
-..Well.developed.tourism.infrastructure.in.place
-..Vibrant.domestic.meeting.and.conference.demand
-..Well-educated.and.highly.experienced.human.resources
-..Spectacular destinations available, new to the market
The Greek government has identified tourism infrastructure development as a priority target and encourages the construction of new conference centers, either independent or within large hotels, at sites that offer unparalleled advantages.
