The Greek island of Karpathos in the south Aegean Sea is included in National Geographic’s annual list of the world’s 25 most impressive, “breathtaking destinations for 2023.” 

 

Karpathos is the only area in Greece included in National Geographic’s subcategory of preserving local communities. 

 

National Geographic refers to the island of the Dodecanese as an amazing and beautiful place, where businesses owned by women lead the way in sustainable tourism. 

 

“The Greek island of Karpathos, a growing center of ecotourism, features striking landscapes surrounded by the Aegean Sea.The isle is part of the Dodecanese archipelago, one of Nat Geo’s Best of the World destinations for 2023,” it is noted. 

 

In the same subcategory on the extensive National Geographic list are Milwaukee, Alberta in Canada, Laos, and Ghana, while 20 more destinations in Europe, Africa, America, and Asia follow in the categories of nature, adventure, family, and culture.

Originally published on: keeptalkinggreece.com

The beach of Chiliadou in Evia is in the running for the Best European Location Award 2022 by the European Network of Film Commissions (EUFCN), according to an announcement by the Hellenic Film Center and following a proposal by its Directorate for International Audiovisual Productions.

 

This is the second time a Greek location has reached the finals of the annual European Film Location Award. It should be noted that Corfu won the award in 2019 when it hosted the filming of the British series "The Durrels."

 

During the pandemic, Chiliadou was the location for the award-winning film "Triangle of Sadness,"  starring Charbli Dean, Harris Dickinson, and Woody Harrelson. The Greek production company Heretic was also involved. The natural landscape of Chiliadou became one of the film’s protagonists, playing a huge part in its atmosphere and aesthetic character. The film won a Golden Palm at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. 

 

 

From November 28, 2022, until January 30, 2023, the public can visit the EUFCN European platform and vote for their preferred location. You can vote for Chiliadou here. 

 

The winner of the EUFCN Location Award 2022 for Best European Filming Location of the year will be revealed at the European Film Market 2023 in Berlin.

 

The five nominated locations for the 2022 Award are: 

• Brissago Islands for the film "Dawn Chorus" – Ticino Film Commission (Switzerland) 
• Chiliadou Beach for the film "Triangle of Sadness" – Hellenic Film Commission (Greece) 
• Portsoy for the series "Peaky Blinders (Season 6)" - Screen Scotland (Scotland)
• Schlosshotel Kronberg for the film "Spencer" – Film Commission Hessen (Germany) 
• Stari Grad district for the film "How I Learned To Fly" – (Croatia)

Originally published in Greek on: kathimerini.gr

Translated by: Codico Lab

Greece once again tops the list of Mediterranean countries for overall tourist satisfaction, according to the latest data indices.

The so-called general satisfaction index (GRI), based entirely on customer feedback, is especially encouraging for Greek tourism, as it continues to recover from two years of disruption due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Calculated by ReviewPro and processed by the Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (INSETE), the GRI for Greece in 2022 was 87%, with Cyprus in second place at 85.6%. The index, which gathers its data from hundreds of social media platforms, hotel review websites and online travel agents, analyzes a range of comparative indicators, inlcuding hotels, service, food and drink, entertainment, hotel cleanliness, location, and value-for-money. A score above 80% indicates a positive experience.

While Greece continues to top the general satisfaction index, it is facing stiff competition in other categories from some of its closest neighbours, including Cyprus, Italy, Croatia, and Turkey.

As of November this year, while Greece ranks first in general satisfaction for hotels (86.8%) and service (89.1%), for example, Cyprus snatched first place for hotel cleanliness (91.8%), and Turkey topped the food and drink category (84.3%). Greece achieved third place in both categories, with scores of 90.6% and 82.7% respectively.

Turkey also topped this year’s list for location (90.4%) and value-for-money (86.8%), with Cyprus in second place in both. As other countries continue to narrow the gap, it’s clear that those working in the Greek tourist industry will need be at the top of their game as we head into 2023.

Originally published on: greece-is.com

Leaving behind the pandemic, with travel having fully recovered, more and more people are looking for destinations to visit in the new year, and the New York Times, as they do every year, made suggestions.

At the top of its list of proposed destinations for 2023 is London, with the NYT noting that the bustling city is preparing for the coronation of King Charles.

The American newspaper in its list chooses destinations that are ideal for their cuisine, culture, for adventure or thanks to their natural beauty.

Regarding our country for the New York Times, Methana is one of the places one should visit in 2023, which ranks 39th on the list.

"Athens’s nearest active volcano, Methana, sits on a peninsula of the same name some 30 miles southwest of the Greek capital. Though largely unknown to tourists, the area is slowly evolving, in part because of its increasing popularity as a hiking destination.

"In recent years, groups of locals have managed to reopen and map old walking paths, some of which date back to the Mycenaean Era, creating hiking trails that attract visitors from around the world. (So far, more than 18 miles have been cleared and marked.)

"The Methana Volcano Challenge, first organized in 2021, offers a trail run across the peninsula’s sloping landscape.

"Visitors to this volcanic peninsula can also enjoy several hot springs, the most interesting of which is an ancient (and recently renovated) tub known as the Pausanias Baths near the village of Agios Nikolaos."

To read this article in full, please visit: greekcitytimes.com

Meteora, in the Greek region of Thessaly, is included as one of the world’s must-visit destinations on the 2023 Travel List published recently by French newspaper Le Monde.

Founded in 1944, the daily afternoon newspaper is considered France’s most trusted national newspaper, according to a 2021 Reuters Institute poll, operating a website among the country’s 50 most visited and can be easily obtainable in many non-French-speaking countries.

Le Monde’s annual Top 20 list for 2023 includes Meteora in the sixth place, referring to it as “the suspended islands” due to its unique geological landscape shaped millions of years ago, when the sea covering the area gave way to dry land creating the famed UNESCO Word Heritage site.

The newspaper’s journalist Bénédicte Bocays mentions Meteora as a family of “limestone giants” that are home “to monasteries built between the 14th and 16th century”. Bocays visited the area last year during a fam trip organized by the Greek National Tourism Organization’ (GNTO) branch in France.

Furthermore, Yoanna Sultan-R’bibo, Le Monde’s editor responsible for its travel, design and gastronomy sections, says that Meteora is the “second most popular site in Greece after the Acropolis in Athens“. She adds that the area is ideal for walking tours starting from the nearby town of Kalambaka and continuing up to the “incredible” seven-century-old cave monasteries.

The newspaper’s travel feature on Meteora also offers a detailed description of the area, emphasizing on its historical and cultural heritage. Useful information for those interested in organizing a trip to the region is also included.

Originally published on: news.gtp.gr

The Saronic island is among the UK newspaper’s top 23 travel destinations this year, thanks to two major Hollywood productions.

“It’s easy to see why there’s a buzz about Spetses,” the UK newspaper says, noting that in the last two years, the small Saronic island has been the location for two major Hollywood productions: “The Lost Daughter,” starring Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman, and Netflix’s “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” featuring Daniel Craig, famous for his 15-year stint as James Bond, 007.

The article also references the iconic Poseidonion Grand Hotel, which is featured in the opening scene of the trailer for “Glass Onion.” Overlooking the waterfront, the luxury 5-star hotel, which first opened in 1914, oozes style and sophistication. It’s easy to see why it became such a popular haunt for Athenian high society and European aristocracy throughout the 20th century.

Famous for its old-fashioned charm, neo-classical architecture and horse-drawn buggies (private vehicles are prohibited within town limits), Spetses is anticipating even more visitors in 2023, according to the article. “We’re all feeling blessed to live here,” says Yannis Manitaras, aged 74, who was born and bred on the island.

And despite its burgeoning popularity as a holiday destination, the article notes there are still relatively affordable places to stay, including several cheap B&Bs.

To read this article in full, please visit: greece-is.com

Athens, Rhodes and Milos are the three Greek destinations competing with popular cities in Europe for the title of “European Best Destination 2023”.

The competition is being held for the 14th consecutive year by the Brussels-based organization European Best Destinations (EBD), in collaboration with Europe’s leading tourist agencies, which aims to promote culture and tourism.

A total of 21 cities in Europe have been shortlisted and are competing for the title this year including London, UK; Vienna, Austria; Toledo, Spain; Essen, Germany; Warsaw, Poland; and Copenhagen, Denmark.

Athens: A contemporary metropolis with an urban personality

EBD: “Birthplace of philosophy, democracy and drama, the city of Athens is not only an open-air museum of world-class cultural heritage attractions but also a contemporary metropolis with an urban personality.”

Athens in 2022 was announced the 15th Best European Destination, with Ljubljana in Slovenia, winning the title. In 2016, the Greek capital was considered the 2nd Best European Destination after Zadar in Croatia.

EBD: “One of the world’s oldest cities with a recorded history of 3,500 years, the Greek capital is constantly undergoing urban renewals to keep up with the evolution of time. Athens lives up to all the hype!”

Rhodes: A perfect destination for lovers of heritage

EBD: “The island of Rhodes is a perfect destination for lovers of old stones, heritage, fortresses and castles. When visiting Rhodes do not miss The Ancient Acropolis of Lindos, the historic Rhodes Old Town, explore the Palace of the Grand Master or just relax in Agios Pavlos beach.”

Milos: One of the best places for a dream holiday

EBD: “Milos Island is one of the best places for a dream holiday in Greece that you classified among the best natural pools in Europe, Best beaches in Europe (Sarakiniko Beach and its famous volcanic rocks which offer sunbathers a lunar scenery). It is also classified among the Best Sculptures in Europe with the Venus of Milo now exhibited in Paris and discovered by a peasant on the island of Milos in Greece by pure chance. Finally Milos is obviously ranked among your best islands in Greece.”

The voting for the prestigious label takes place online until February 10.

To cast your vote, please click HERE.

To read this article in full, please visit: news.gtp.gr

Greece is among the world’s top 10 luxury destinations this summer, according to the “Holiday Habits Luxury Travelers Guide 2023” released by Condé Nast Johansens.

More specifically, the annual study placed Greece among the world’s leading destinations for luxury travelers. The list also includes the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Ireland, Croatia, the United States, and the Caribbean.

Study findings also reveal that 38 percent of luxury travelers said they plan to spend an average of 8,000 euros on their holidays in the coming months. Overall, luxury travelers take three to four vacations a year generating up to 32,000 dollars in revenues annually.


To read this article in full visit news.gtp.gr

Tripadvisor reviewers placed Athens, Crete and Santorini among the world’s best destinations for travel in 2024.

The three Greek destinations were on Tripadvisor’s list of “Best of the Best Destinations”, the travel guidance platform’s first Travelers’ Choice Award for 2024.

The 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Destinations are calculated based on an analysis of Tripadvisor reviews and ratings from a recent 12-month period (October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023).

Three Greek destinations among the best

Greece’s capital city, Athens, shines as one of the top 20 destinations in Europe to visit (18th place). Athens also came in 15th world’s best destination for food (Food Destinations – World list) and 8th best in Europe. The Greek capital was also named the 5th best culture destination in the world.

The Greek island of Crete was named the ninth top destination in the world and fourth best in Europe. Crete was also applauded on the “Food Destinations – World” list and came in third best in that category. On the same list for Europe, Crete was voted as the second best destination.

Santorini shines in the 14th place on the “Top Destinations – World” list and in the 8th place on the “Honeymoon Destinations – World” list.

The 2024 Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best Destinations are calculated based on the quality and quantity of reviews, specific to each award subcategory, for accommodations, restaurants, and things to do in destinations from travelers globally on Tripadvisor between October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.

Originally published on: news.gtp.gr

CEOWORLD magazine has placed Greece in the Top 5 countries for expat retirement in 2024 after releasing the “Global Expat Retirement Index 2024 Survey," a guide listing the countries that offer the most stability for those thinking of retiring abroad.

A leading business magazine for CEOs, CFOs, high-level executive professionals, business leaders, and high-net-worth individuals, CEOWORLD assessed each country based on local friendliness, health, and well-being, quality of life, ease of settling in, recreation, culture, nightlife, and diverse culinary options.

Greece ranked 5th on a list of 50 countries with a score of 95.07.

Preceding Greece on the list were Taiwan in first place with a score of 95.67, followed by Spain (95.31), Portugal (95.29), and Mexico (95.2). Completing the Top 10 list after Greece were the United Arab Emirates, France, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Earlier this month, Greece was once again listed among the Top 10 Best Places in the World to Retire in 2024, according to the 2024 Global Retirement Index released by International Living.

The country ranked 7th with an overall score of 77 and was described as a “dream vacation destination.”.

To read this article in full, please visit: keeptalkinggreece.com