City of Athens on the Web
In response to an article titled «Municipality asleep on the job,» published in Kathimerini English Edition on August 4-5, the City of Athens would like to point out that the city’s website (www.cityofathens.gr and not www.athens.gr, as printed in the article) is in the progress of being upgraded. The home page of the portal’s English version lists the latest news pertaining to the City of Athens, as detailed in press releases, which are regularly updated. The main story on the home page outlines the first Attiko Woods Festival, which started on July 2 and runs to September 16. It mentions that citizens and visitors alike can contact the Citizens Helpline (195) for further information on the festival, in addition to any other events organized by the City of Athens. As citizens and many visitors are aware, the City of Athens hosts a series of cultural events each summer and this is the first time these events – the majority of which are free to the public – have been brought together in one festival. This is the municipality’s main arts and cultural event for the summer and it has attracted significant media attention abroad. The home page includes an «In Athens» section which links to the comprehensive Athens Tourism and Economic Development Agency website (www.athenstourism.gr). Indeed, the city’s website has proven to be a highly useful tool for both visitors and journalists, judging by the number of queries the city receives daily via phone and e-mail from individuals seeking guidance. The latest evidence of this is an extensive travel feature on Athens published on August 4 in the Canadian daily The Globe and Mail, which lists the www.athenstourism.gr site. CITY OF ATHENS