Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-06-06

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Tourism minister stresses quality upgrade of Greek tourist product at Hotel Chamber awards

[02] West Attica Prefecture Council decides reopening of Ano Liossia landfill

[01] Tourism minister stresses quality upgrade of Greek tourist product at Hotel Chamber awards

Avramopoulos stressed that the ministry's efforts were aiming in this direction and that quality would give Greece a competitive advantage over other tourist destinations.

He also stressed the need to change shortsighted, price-gouging attitudes by certain businesses in the tourist sector, which sought to gain maximum profits in a short space of time, and said the ministry will crack down on profiteering.

The minister announced that the National Tourism Council will be held for the first time in Thessaloniki on July 4, with the participation of all tourism bodies, and pointed to the benefits of the new developmental law, while he called for the closure of uncompetitive hotel units.

Main opposition PASOK MP Anna Diamantopoulou questioned the minister's optimism concerning tourist traffic in 2005, pointing to disappointing occupancy rates in April and May this year.

Recipients of the Hotel Chamber's awards included former president Kostis Stephanopoulos for his contribution to the country and tourism, Athens Olympics Organising Committee chairwoman Yianna Angelopoulos-Daskalaki for her contribution to the success of the Olympic Games, the airline company Aegean Airlines for best tourist enterprise, the Grande Bretagne for best city hotel, the Elounda Beach hotel for the best holiday resort, Life Gallery in Ekali for the best design and art hotel, the Hotel Imaret in Kavala for the best traditional lodgings and the Sunwing Resort for the most environmentally friendly behaviour.

Also presented at the awards was the results of a survey by the magazine "Money and Tourism", according to which Greek hotels were marginally cheaper than their western European competitors, sometimes even than their equivalents in Turkey.

None of the Balkan countries were on an equal footing with western European destinations, with the possible exception of Bulgaria, while the cheapest destination was Tunisia.

[02] West Attica Prefecture Council decides reopening of Ano Liossia landfill

The Council convened in Elefsina on Monday afternoon and decided that the landfill would begin accepting refuse again, but not sludge from the Psyttalia wastewater treatment plant.

Ano Liossia Mayor Nikos Papadimas closed the landfill last Tuesday, in opposition to the decision of the Ministry of the Environment, Town Planning and Public Works, according to which sludge from Psyttalia would continue to be disposed at Ano Liossia.

The prefecture said that it is waiting for the government to realise its promises regarding the creation of two new landfills outside western Attica as well as the adoption of modern, waste management methods.

The fate of Psyttalia's sludge will be discussed with environment ministry officials on June 15.

Earlier on Monday, Athens first instance public prosecutor Dimitris Papangelopoulos had met with West Attica local authorities and had warned that he would carry out the law and press charges, placing those responsible in custody, unless an immediate solution to the dump's closure was found.

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