Greek PM pledges full support to flood-stricken as death toll rises to 10

STORY: Greek PM pledges full support to flood-stricken as death toll rises to 10 DATELINE: Sept. 9, 2023 LENGTH: 00:02:22 LOCATION: KARDITSA, Greece CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visiting the affected areas of central Greece on Friday 2. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaking 3. various of the rescue operation in Palamas Karditsa 4. various of the heavy torrential rains in Larissa central Greece STORYLINE: Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis pledged full support to the flood-stricken during a visit to affected areas of central Greece on Friday, Greek national broadcaster ERT reported. Meanwhile, Greek Civil Protection and Climate Crisis Minister Vassilis Kikilias announced that the flood-caused death toll has climbed to 10, while four people were still missing. "We will do whatever it takes. I will also mobilize whatever European resources are available so that we can have additional support," Mitsotakis said addressing local offici

Death toll from floods in Greece reaches 6

STORY: Death toll from floods in Greece reaches 6 DATELINE: Sept. 8, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:29 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT SHOTLIST: 1. various of the rescue operation in Astritsa village, Karditsa (Shots from Greek Fire Brigade) 2. various of the rescue operation in Astritsa village, Karditsa (Shots from Greek Fire Brigade) 3. various of heavy torrential rains in central Greece STORYLINE: The death toll from extensive flooding caused by torrential rains in central Greece this week has reached six, with the bodies of two elderly women recovered in the Thessaly region on Thursday afternoon, Greek national broadcaster ERT has reported. Earlier on Thursday, Greek Civil Protection and Climate Crisis Minister Vassilis Kikilias had confirmed the deaths of four people, with another six missing. In addition, at least 64 people were trapped in their houses in villages in the Thessaly region, the most affected by the floods, he said. "(Rescuers) will continue search operations door-to-door in villages that

Tourist in Greece spends over 200 euros a day on average

STORY: Tourists in Greece spend over 200 euros a day on average DATELINE: March 24, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:45 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: ECONOMY/SOCIETY SHOTLIST: 1. various of tourists in the Athens historical center 2. various of Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias during a forum of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) organized in Athens on Wednesday 3. SOUNDBITE 1 (Greek): VASSILIS KIKILIAS, Greek Tourism Minister 4. various of Giorgos Karanikas, ESEE president during the forum 5. SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): GIORGOS KARANIKAS, ESEE president 6. various of tourists in the Athens historical center STORYLINE: Tourists visiting Greece spend an average of 201 euros (about 217.58 U.S. dollars) a day per person, while the potential for greater benefits for local businesses and the economy is significant, according to a survey of the Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) presented in Athens on Wednesday. 56 percent of the respondents in the survey conducted in

Greece eager to host Chinese travelers again: Tourism minister

STORY: Greece eager to host Chinese travelers again: Tourism minister DATELINE: Jan. 22, 2023 LENGTH: 00:01:42 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Vassilis Kikilias, Greek Tourism Minister speaking with Xinhua 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): VASSILIS KIKILIAS, Greek Tourism Minister 3. various of tourists arriving at Athens 4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): VASSILIS KIKILIAS, Greek Tourism Minister 5. various of buildings in Athens 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): VASSILIS KIKILIAS, Greek Tourism Minister 5. various of views of Athens 6. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): VASSILIS KIKILIAS, Greek Tourism Minister STORYLINE: In a recent Xinhua interview, Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said that Greece is ready to welcome back Chinese travelers. He said in Athens on Thursday that "we are ready to greet our Chinese friends, travelers and tourists, in this new touristic season." The outbreak of the pandemic put the brakes on an impressive increase in Chinese arrivals in Greece in recent years. Following the

Greek tourism revenues to hit new records this year

STORY: Greek tourism revenues to hit new records this year DATELINE: Sept. 11, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:19 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of tourist attractions, markets, restaurants and beaches in Greece 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): VASSILIS KIKILIAS, Greek Tourism Minister 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ALEXANDROS VASSILIKOS, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): ALEXANDROS VASSILIKOS, President of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) STORYLINE: Tourism in Greece, a vital pillar of the country's economy, is on track to yield record-high revenues this year, exceeding pre-pandemic levels, according to local officials, industry experts and analysts. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): VASSILIS KIKILIAS, Greek Tourism Minister "2022 was an amazing year for Greek tourism. I'm very happy to announce that branded destinations, alternative destinations, islands, mainland were full of travelers and tourists this year and that it looks like we are going to surpass revenues and

Greece's recovering tourism industry struggling with staff shortage

STORY: Greece's recovering tourism industry struggling with staff shortage DATELINE: May 27, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:51 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of tourists in Greece 2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ARIS IKKOS, Research Director of Institute SETE 3. SOUNDBITE 2 (Greek): ANASTASIOS ZISSOPOULOS, President of the Hellenic Chef's Federation 4. SOUNDBITE 3 (Greek): ANASTASIOS ZISSOPOULOS, President of the Hellenic Chef's Federation 5. SOUNDBITE 4 (English): ARIS IKKOS, Research Director of Institute SETE 6. various of views in Greece STORYLINE: Greece's tourism sector, a vital pillar of the country's economy for decades, has been forecast to recover and reach the 2019 pre-pandemic record levels this year by local officials and industry experts. Revenues from tourism soared 342 percent in the first three months of 2022 compared with the same period the previous year, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias told local television on Thursday. However, many businesses in this industry are strugglin

China, Greece sign deal to boost tourism cooperation

STORY: China, Greece sign deal to boost tourism cooperation DATELINE: March 15, 2022 LENGTH: 00:02:10 LOCATION: Athens CATEGORY: ECONOMY SHOTLIST: 1. various of Greek Τourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and Chinese Ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng signing agreements 2. SOUNDBITE (English): VASSILIS KIKILIAS, Greek Τourism Minister 3. SOUNDBITE (English): XIAO JUNZHENG, Chinese Ambassador to Greece STORYLINE: Greece and China have signed a Joint Action Program aimed at strengthening cooperation on tourism in the coming years. Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias and China's Ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng, on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism, signed the agreement on Monday in Athens. SOUNDBITE 1 (English) VASSILIS KIKILIAS, Greek Τourism Minister "We welcome today's political signature of this MoU concerning my field of expertise which is tourism and the possibility to strengthen the cooperation." The Joint Action Program 2022-2024 focuses on enhancing Sino-Greek cooperati

GREECE-ATHENS-CHINA-TOURISM-JOINT ACTION PROGRAM-SIGNING

GREECE-ATHENS-CHINA-TOURISM-JOINT ACTION PROGRAM-SIGNING

(220314) -- ATHENS, March 14, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias (R) and China's Ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng sign documents in Athens, Greece, on March 14, 2022. Greece and China have signed a Joint Action Program aimed at strengthening cooperation on tourism in the coming years. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)

GREECE-ATHENS-CHINA-TOURISM-JOINT ACTION PROGRAM-SIGNING

GREECE-ATHENS-CHINA-TOURISM-JOINT ACTION PROGRAM-SIGNING

(220314) -- ATHENS, March 14, 2022 (Xinhua) -- Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias (R) and China's Ambassador to Greece Xiao Junzheng shake hands after signing documents in Athens, Greece, on March 14, 2022. Greece and China have signed a Joint Action Program aimed at strengthening cooperation on tourism in the coming years. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos)