Tourist arrivals in Greece rose 6.33 percent in the first half of 2006,

compared with the same period last year, figures released by the Federation of

Tourism Enterprises (SETE) said on Tuesday. SETE said the number of foreign visitors to Greece would exceed the record

number of 2001 if growth rates continued at the same pace throughout the

remaining half of the year.

The report was based on tourist arrivals in 12 Greek airports, accounting for

more than 90 percent of total air flights and more than 75 percent of tourist

arrivals in the country.

SETE said this positive development should lead to complacency and urged for

further measures to improve quality in tourism services and to improve Greek

tourism competitiveness. The Federation also urged the country’s Tourism

ministry to intensify efforts in collecting and processing statistical figures

in the tourism sector.
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