Search
Home Blog Page 338

Greece continues to hold strong appeal for Australian travellers, new report finds

The Greek Herald
-
0
Greece continues to hold strong appeal for Australian travellers, new report finds

Greece remains among the top 15 travel destinations for tourists from the U.S., Canada, and Australia, while significantly gaining popularity in India, surpassing China for the first time, according to a new INSETE report.

Based on a GWI survey (Jan–Feb 2025), Greece ranks:

  • Australia: 11th (9.8%)
  • Canada: 11th (7.9%)
  • U.S.: 13th (8.4%)
  • India: 26th (5.9%), up 13 spots
  • China: 31st (3.8%)

According to athens24.com, France and Italy lead Mediterranean preferences across all five markets. Greece ranks 4th overall—except in Australia, where it places 3rd.

Travel intent is highest in India (72.4%) and lowest in the U.S. (57%), with Canada, Australia, and China in between. Indian travelers also show the highest intent for multiple trips, with 13.8% planning five or more.

Nature-focused and sun/sea holidays, key strengths for Greece, are especially appealing to Indian travelers.

Spending expectations remain steady across most markets, though many travelers expect to spend more—particularly 18% of respondents in Canada, the U.S., and China. Indian and Australian travelers also show increased spending intent.

Accommodation budgets vary, with Americans and Australians spending the most. In India, 38.9% are willing to spend over ₹4,800 per night.

Trip planning habits show Indians and Chinese book earliest, while Canadians are latest. Most prefer trips of 5–7 days or longer, especially in India, Australia, the U.S., and Canada.

Top vacation types include sightseeing, beach holidays, and city breaks. Relaxation is the main motivation in most countries, while cultural experiences top the list for Chinese travelers.

Hotels remain the top accommodation choice—except in China, where alternative lodging is more popular.

Greece’s rising profile, especially in India, points to opportunities in cultural, coastal, and nature-based tourism.

Source: athens24.com

Historic Tatoi estate to reopen as cultural and environmental landmark by 2026

The Greek Herald
-
0
Historic Tatoi estate to reopen as cultural and environmental landmark by 2026

The redevelopment of the historic Tatoi Estate, once the summer home of Greece’s former royal family, is progressing steadily, according to Culture Minister Lina Mendoni during her recent visit. Located 21km northwest of Athens at the base of Mt. Parnitha, the estate is being transformed into a dynamic hub for culture, nature, and recreation, tovima.com, has reported.

With a budget exceeding €70 million—funded by national and EU sources, along with private sponsors like the A.C. Laskaridis Charitable Foundation and the AEGEAS non-profit of the Athanassios & Marina Martinos Foundation—the project aims to complete museum infrastructure by 2026.

Minister Mendoni called it “a project of national importance,” emphasizing that “the protection, restoration, and public access to the historical core of the former royal estate in Tatoi is a project of national importance, transforming the estate into a dynamic, visitable cultural and environmental site.” Major works are set for completion by end-2025, with public opening planned for the following year.

Current efforts include restoring the Stables of George I—future home of the Museum of Royal Carriages—and the Mausoleum near the Church of the Resurrection. Palace Garden landscaping continues, and infrastructure for water and sewage is already in place.

Damaged during the 2021 Mt. Parnitha wildfires, Tatoi is now equipped with modern fire prevention systems. Restoration is also supported by the Friends of the Tatoi Estate Association through fundraising and public tours.

Recognized for its ecological significance under the EU’s Natura 2000 network and once listed by Europa Nostra among Europe’s most endangered heritage sites, Tatoi’s revival is part of a broader €130 million initiative. “Tatoi is a legacy project for future generations,” said Mendoni.

The redevelopment of the historic Tatoi Estate, once the summer home of Greece’s former royal family, is progressing steadily.

Source: tovima.com

EU prepares to scrap 100ml liquid rule for hand luggage

The Greek Herald
-
0
EU prepares to scrap 100ml liquid rule for hand luggage

Airports across the EU are expected to phase out the long-standing 100ml limit on liquids in hand baggage, as advanced security screening systems capable of detecting liquid explosives come into wider use, euronews.com, has reported.

The European Commission confirmed to Euronews that plans are underway to roll out this change, initially reported by Il Corriere della Sera. The move would allow passengers to carry larger bottles and containers in their cabin bags without breaching security regulations.

Currently, EU rules restrict liquids, aerosols, and gels (LAGs) in carry-on luggage to containers of 100ml or less due to limitations in traditional X-ray systems. Exceptions are allowed only for baby food, medication, and special dietary items.

However, next-generation explosive detection systems have already been installed at select EU airports, including Rome and Milan, allowing for more accurate scanning of liquids. These systems had faced temporary restrictions imposed by the European Commission in 2023 for technical evaluation.

Working with the European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC), the Commission recently approved a new screening solution in June 2025. Manufacturers must now submit their equipment for certification. Once approved by ECAC, it will be cleared for use across the EU, enabling screening of larger liquid volumes.

Deployment of this technology could begin “in the coming days,” a Commission spokesperson said. However, implementation will vary across the bloc, as not all airports currently have the required systems, which are more costly than conventional scanners.

According to Corriere della Sera, seven Italian terminals are already equipped. Airports in countries such as Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Malta, Sweden, and the Netherlands may soon follow suit.

Source: euronews.com

Jason Sotiris expands Supertee with Spider-Man design to support sick children

The Greek Herald
-
0
Jason Sotiris expands Supertee with Spider-Man design to support sick children

Today, on Spider-Man Day, the Fair Fight Foundation and The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand have launched a new Supertee: Marvel Edition with ‘Spider-Man’ design. 

The Supertee is a medical garment intended to help empower and support sick children in Australian hospitals, featuring a design to inspire strength through imagination.

‘Spider-Man’ is the third Marvel Avenger character in the Supertee: Marvel Edition collection, adding to ‘Captain America’ and ‘Captain Marvel’ designs, available since 2022. 

The multi-functional medical garments serve as a Super Hero costume to give children a psychological boost and uplift their hospital experience. Supertee was created in 2018 by Fair Fight Foundation Founder, Jason Sotiris, who felt helpless as he sat by his daughter’s hospital bedside while she battled a rare life-threatening cancer. He wanted to make her feel more comfortable and brighten her days. 

Marvel Super Heroes have inspired generations, and the Supertee: Marvel Edition ‘Spider-Man’ design allows sick kids to connect with the characters’ superpowers and to channel their own strength and courage during what may be their toughest battle.  

MRI and PET Scan friendly, the Supertee is designed with open underarms for thermometer access, press studs evenly spaced allowing for bypass tubes and lines and accessing vital areas. The garment encourages children into the world of imaginative play and is available in sizes 1 to adult XS. 

Sotiris, Founder of Supertee and Fair Fight Foundation, said: “I am really excited for this expansion of our collaboration with The Walt Disney Company. The new Spider-Man design gives more children the opportunity to connect with a familiar and much loved character who represents strength, conviction, and bravery.” 

“More than 35,000 Supertees have helped brave children gain additional courage in more than 100 hospitals around Australia, at no cost to families. This has been an incredible effort, and I’m so proud of our team, volunteers and those who have supported us, and we are inspired to keep going. Our goal is to have helped 100,000 children in hospital by 2028,” Sotiris added. 

The Walt Disney Company Australia and New Zealand’s Senior Vice President and Managing Director, Kylie Watson-Wheeler, said: “We’re excited to have the iconic Spider-Man inspire the third design in our Marvel Edition collaboration with Supertee. The design taps into a deep love that kids have for Spider-Man, and we hope it will be a source of inspiration and courage when it’s needed most.” 

“We are delighted to continue supporting the important work of the Fair Fight Foundation and are immensely proud of The Walt Disney Company’s work with children’s hospitals, in Australia and around the world, to bring joy and comfort to children with critical illnesses and their families,” Watson-Wheeler said.  

Supertee: Marvel Edition ‘Spider-Man’ will be distributed free of charge to hospitals around Australia by Fair Fight Foundation.

For more information, to donate, or to join in helping to get Supertees into the hands of those who need them most, head to supertee.org.au.  

French town honours Greek Australian with street name for war graves discovery

The Greek Herald
-
0
French town honours Greek Australian with street name for war graves discovery

Greek Australian historian and former Melbourne teacher Lambis Englezos has been honoured in Fromelles, France, with a street named after him – recognising his pivotal role in the discovery of 250 missing Australian soldiers killed during the Battle of Fromelles in the First World War.

The unveiling took place earlier this week, with Fromelles Mayor Jean-Gabriel Masson paying tribute to Englezos’ tireless work.

“Why the ‘Lambis Englezos’ alley? Since 2002, I can testify as the honourable mayor (during this time), you have campaigned to bring out of the shadows the Australian soldiers who disappeared after the Battle of Fromelles,” Masson said.

The honour comes 17 years after Englezos and his team located the mass graves at Pheasant Wood, not far from the 1916 battlefield, following a meticulous six-year investigation.

Fromelles-1606
Englezos and his team located mass graves at Pheasant Wood. There is now a formal graveyard there.

The soldiers had been buried by German forces in five large pits – a fact confirmed through aerial photos and a critical document found in the Munich archives, detailing orders issued just two days after the battle.

Of the 250 soldiers discovered in 2008, 180 have now been identified, but Englezos says his mission is far from complete.

“It’s been a journey,” he told The Daily Telegraph. “You want to maximise every possible chance to identify a soldier. Had we left them like that, it would have sent a really bad message.”

Englezos began his mission in 2002 after spotting a brief mention of a possible burial site in Don’t Forget Me, Cobber.

This clue led him to uncover vital evidence that prompted a government-backed archaeological dig, which recovered over 700 war-related items and confirmed the burial of ANZAC soldiers at Pheasant Wood.

Today, students in Fromelles honour the fallen by adopting their graves, while Englezos continues his search for other missing Diggers in France and Turkey.

Source: The Daily Telegraph

Nikos Papastergiadis wins prestigious Michael Crouch Award for literary debut

Andriana Simos
-
0
Nikos Papastergiadis wins prestigious Michael Crouch Award for literary debut

Nikos Papastergiadis has been awarded the 2025 Michael Crouch Award for a Debut Work at the National Biography Awards for his hybrid memoir John Berger and Me.

The announcement was made on July 31 via ABC Radio.

Described by the judges as “a unique, stunning blend of biography and memoir”, John Berger and Me stood out for its originality and form.

Awards chair Sylvia Martin praised its “clever, non-linear but accessible structure”, adding: “The quality of Nikos Papastergiadis’ perceptive, lyrical, subtly humorous prose also shone among a highly competitive field.”

The book explores Papastergiadis’ friendship with renowned English cultural theorist John Berger, whose 1972 work Ways of Seeing remains influential. Their connection began in the 1990s, when Papastergiadis, then a doctoral student at Cambridge, regularly visited Berger’s home in the rural French village of Quincy.

Nikos Papastergiadis

Calling the work a “likeness”, Papastergiadis presents a rich tapestry of anecdotes, fragments, and memories. He delves into their shared passions – motorbikes, rembetika music, and hay-making – while also offering vivid depictions of Berger’s family, local villagers, and his own Greek migrant parents.

More than a personal memoir, the book meditates on broader themes of migration, belonging, and the existential challenges faced by agrarian communities in the modern world.

Papastergiadis, a graduate of the University of Melbourne and the University of Cambridge, currently researches the impact of digital technology on contemporary art and cultural institutions.

He is set to appear at the State Library of NSW on August 16 in conversation with other shortlisted authors.

Source: Giramondo Publishing

‘Kapetan Mihalis’: Greek Film Festival celebrates 30 years with epic opening night

The Greek Herald
-
0
‘Kapetan Mihalis’: Greek Film Festival celebrates 30 years with epic opening night

The Greek Film Festival in Sydney, proudly presented by Benchmark Greek Law, has announced the monumental opening night film of its 30th anniversary, ‘Kapetan Mihalis’ (‘Captain Michael’) by Kostas Haralambous, based on the similarly titled book by legendary Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis.

Prepare to be transported to a time of revolution, Cretan honour, and forbidden love!

On Tuesday, October 14, at Palace Norton St Leichhardt, the red carpet will be rolled out for a gala celebration starting at 6:00 PM. Guests will be treated to a spectacular evening filled with a celebratory atmosphere, Cretan vibes, unparalleled Greek hospitality, and great live music.

The experience will be elevated with exquisite catering by Georges Mediterranean Bar and Grill, fine wines from Raw Vine Estate, and a selection of boutique-crafted Greek beers from 7 Seals, courtesy of Mediterranean Gourmet.

The highly anticipated screening will follow at 8:30 PM. This is more than just an opening night; it’s a cinematic event that promises to be thrilling, deeply moving, and a fittingly epic celebration of three decades of Greek cinema on Sydney’s big screen.

Kapetan Mihalis

Based on Kazantzakis’ internationally acclaimed novel Kapetan Mihalis, and inspired by the author’s own childhood memories, the Opening Night Film is a sweeping saga set in 1889 Crete. Directed by the visionary Kostas Haralambous and starring Emilios Chilakis, Alekos Sissovitis, Loukia Michalopoulou, and Jenny Kazakou, the film tells the story of an uncompromising Cretan patriot, Kapetan Mihalis. His sacred duty is to liberate his island from the Ottoman Turks, but a fateful encounter with Emine, the wife of his blood brother, Nuri-bey, forces him to confront a choice between his sacred duty and a forbidden passion.

“This film is a powerful reminder of the Cretan spirit and the universal struggle for freedom and identity,” Harry Danalis, President of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, said.

Nia Karteris, Chair of the Greek Festival and Greek Film Festival of Sydney, added, “We are incredibly excited to open our anniversary 30th festival with a film of this magnitude, celebrating the enduring legacy of Greek storytelling on the world stage.”

Event Details:

  • What: Opening Night of the 30th Greek Film Festival in Sydney
  • When: Tuesday, 14th October 2025
  • Where: Palace Norton St | Gala: 6:00pm, Screening: 8:30pm, (99 Norton St, Leichhardt NSW 2040)
  • Film: KAPETAN MIHALIS by Kostas Haralambous
  • Tickets: https://shorturl.at/spiPF

For more information, please visit www.greekfilmfestival.com.au

Simon Behrakis concedes defeat after narrow loss in Tasmanian seat of Clark

The Greek Herald
-
0
Simon Behrakis concedes defeat after narrow loss in Tasmanian seat of Clark

Simon Behrakis has lost his seat in Tasmania’s electorate of Clark by a razor-thin margin, as fellow Liberal and sitting MP Madeleine Ogilvie surged ahead in the final count to claim the last available seat.

The Tasmanian Electoral Commission confirmed the result on Thursday, July 31, revealing that Ogilvie had overtaken Behrakis by just 180 votes, despite trailing in first preferences.

Behrakis led initially with 5,122 first-preference votes to Ogilvie’s 4,452. However, under Tasmania’s Hare-Clark voting system – which redistributes preferences from eliminated candidates – Ogilvie rose to 7,082 votes, narrowly beating Behrakis, who finished with 6,902.

It is a major setback for Behrakis, who entered state parliament in October 2023 following a recount triggered by the resignation of former Liberal attorney-general Elise Archer. Prior to that, he had served as a Hobart City Councillor since 2018.

In a statement shared following the final count, Behrakis thanked his supporters and reflected on his time in public office.

“It was a great honour to serve the Tasmanian people in the Parliament and something I’m very grateful to have achieved,” he said.

Fellow Liberal Marcus Vermey, who topped the party ticket with 5,870 first preferences, secured the sixth seat with a final tally of 8,006.

Source: Pulse Tasmania

Australia avoids tariff hike under Trump’s revised trade order

The Greek Herald
-
0
Australia avoids tariff hike under Trump’s revised trade order

Australia has avoided a steep tariff increase under a new executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, which has revised reciprocal trade tariffs for multiple countries.

In a statement released by the White House on Thursday night (US time), President Trump announced new tariff measures aimed at tackling what he called “exploding” US trade deficits.

Several countries now face base rates above 10%, with some, like New Zealand, unexpectedly shifted to a 15% tariff.

Australia, however, is not among the nations listed in Annex I of the order – meaning it will continue to be subject to the lowest tariff rate of 10%, alongside countries like Britain and Brazil.

Trump pauses most global tariffs but doubles down on China amid market volatility
Australia has avoided a steep tariff increase under a new executive order signed by US President Donald Trump. Photo: AP News.

The White House stated that the move was part of the President’s broader strategy to “secure fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade relationships,” while reinforcing national and economic security.

“President Trump has reset decades of failed trade policy… taking back America’s economic sovereignty,” the statement said.

The executive order follows months of negotiations, with some countries failing to meet US demands for more favourable trade or security terms. Others, such as the EU and Japan, have secured deals involving large-scale investments in the US – but at the cost of accepting higher base tariffs.

Source: news.com.au

Santorini proposal hilariously interrupted by unwitting elderly couple

The Greek Herald
-
0
Santorini proposal hilariously interrupted by unwitting elderly couple

Proposals are all about timing – and while one couple nailed the moment, it wasn’t the pair getting engaged.

Travel content creators Kevin Arrieta and Natali Melani were filming their engagement in picturesque Santorini, Greece, when a perfectly placed camera captured a perfectly imperfect moment.

Just as Arrieta dropped to one knee to propose, an elderly tourist couple wandered into the frame. The man, chocolate bar in hand, paused to point around the scenery while standing directly between the couple and the camera – completely unaware they were interrupting a once-in-a-lifetime moment.

Melani gave her answer while the couple remained in the shot, but the pair laughed off the mishap and later uploaded the now-viral footage to Instagram with the caption: “Proposal: 10/10, Timing: 0/10, Memory: Priceless.”

Not everyone online saw the humour, with one commenter writing, “I don’t consider myself a particularly angry person but this sparked some very real rage.”

But many users had a more positive take. “Their future walked into the frame,” one person noted.

Speaking to Good Morning America, Melani and Arrieta said they’re hoping to track down the mystery couple.

“We’d love to invite them to our wedding, and we hopefully think that they also think this is funny like we did,” Melani said.

Source: honey.nine.com.au

1...337338339...2,014Page 338 of 2,014

Stay connected:

Other

© 2024 The Greek Herald. All rights reserved.