OPINION

Triple wager

Shipping, tourism and culture are likely to be the focus of the government’s new model for economic development. The aim is to boost these sectors in which we continue to have a competitive edge internationally but which we are failing to take advantage of. Greece is a world leader in international shipping. No other heavy industry in the country yields such huge revenues. But the State has done little to boost this sector. Along with upgrading maritime training, the improvement of the operating conditions for shipping, and the modernization of our ports, it would be possible to develop an economic environment where many of today’s unemployed could find jobs. Things are more complex in the tourism sector, where many opportunities are being missed. With legislation that does anything but encourage development, a mediocre level of services and hotels and the lack of transparency in holiday room rental, we have lost ground. The chief aim here should be to create the right circumstances for serious investment. Legislation should pave the way for the construction of quality tourist accommodation at large new sites. Connected to tourism is the more effective utilization of our cultural assets. Already, the Culture Ministry is seeking ways to ensure that visitors to historical sites come away feeling enriched but it is also interested in turning them into consumers, as is the case with foreign museums…

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