

#SilverLinings (17–23/7/2017) — Tourism is breaking records and the current account is getting better.
An EU fund to support small tourism entrepreneurs is set up, Europe’s largest seaside pool opens and students win an international contest.
The most visitors Greece has ever seen
A record-breaking 27 million tourists are expected to travel to Greece this summer, the Alternate Minister of Tourism Elena Kountoura said in an interview to the Guardian. Since 2015, tourism figures have been rising steadily. Travel receipts grew by 2.4% or €23 million in 2017.

Greece’s current account deficit falls by €64 million
The Bank of Greece announced on Friday that between January and May 2017, Greece’s current account deficit shrank by €64 million, to €3.6 billion. Whilst the Greek government imported more goods than it exported, the opposite is true for services. The increase in services exports was accompanied by increases in the government’s primary and secondary income, which combined did more than offset a widening trade in goods deficit.
€120 million from the EU to support tourism
A National Strategic Reference Framework programme will be launched in September. The programme will use €120 million to invest in small and medium sized tourism businesses. The owners who are entitled to funding will get €50,000 in advance. “Our vision is to render Greece a tourist destination 365 days a year,” the Secretary General of the Tourism Ministry announced. The Ministry aims to tap into new markets such as China and the Arab countries. It is also preparing for an influx from Russia next season on the occasion of the 2017–2018 Russia-Greece year.
Students from the University of Thessaloniki win a global design contest
A smart dress made by two students in their final year of Architecture at the Aristotelian University of Thessaloniki for their dissertation won first prize at Product Design at the global “Re-thinking the Future” competition. Designed to adapt to different temperatures, activities and body types, the dress won against 512 submissions from 30 countries.

Europe’s largest beachfront pool opens in Mykonos
A 6,000 square meter pool by the sea has opened at the SantAnna resort in Mykonos. Holding 222,000 gallons of water, it is Europe’s biggest seaside pool. “The biggest issue travelers to Mykonos would tell me about was their need for a beach club where they had privacy but could also be part of the scene,” said Dimitris Christoforidis, the brain behind Nice’n’Easy restaurant, who had the idea for the pool. Visitors can rent their private space for prices that range from €20 to €500 and enjoy one of two restaurants and three bars, a clothes boutique, a spa and a gym.
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