Exposure via movies hurt due to gov’t delays
Actors Pierce Brosnan (left) and Colin Firth (right) are seen during filming of the 2008 movie ‘Mamma Mia!’ in the port of Skiathos in the northern Sporades. Greece is missing out on promotion opportunities offered by films shot in this country due to foot-dragging by the government ministries responsible for approving the relevant permits, according to travel agencies from Corfu, Rhodes and Crete. In a letter sent to Prime Minister George Papandreou and the Tourism Ministry, the three groups said they have received many complaints from members in niche tourism markets regarding delays in getting government approval for the filming of Greek and foreign films in their areas. ‘As a result, many foreign companies are changing the locations of their film production and going to beaches in Turkey, Italy and other Mediterranean countries, which, much to their delight, provide permits in a matter of days,’ the letter read.
