Airports report over 1.2 million more arrivals
Arrivals from abroad at the country’s main airports posted a 10.8 percent annual increase in 2013, according to data released by the Association of Hellenic Tourism Enterprises (SETE), totaling 12.64 million against 11.41 million in 2012. The biggest annual increase was reported at Kalamata Airport in southwestern Greece (up by 61.2 percent), followed by Myconos (26.7 percent) and Santorini (22 percent). December also helped toward that increase with a 16 percent rise in foreign arrivals compared with the same month of 2012. The country’s main carrier, Aegean, contributed significantly to that growth, as in the first 11 months of 2013
Greece last year, inflicting a huge blow on the revenues of both casinos and the state. The total amount of gambling machinery and cards tables confiscated in 2013 could have supported the operation of 20 casino enterprises on top of the existing nine, according to police data. the airline reported a 17 percent rise in traffic from its Greek hubs.
Crisis loans.
Eurozone banks will return 2.566 billion euros in crisis loans to the European Central Bank next week, draining less liquidity than expected out of the financial system as the repayments resume. The ECB stopped early repayments of more than 1 trillion euros in three-year loans over the turn of the year to avoid a liquidity squeeze. The amount banks will repay on Wednesday is a fraction of the 20.7 billion euros they returned at the last opportunity in 2013 in the week of December 23 and less than the 6 billion euros than forecast in a Reuters poll.
Forthnet increase.
Listed firm Forthnet has confirmed the successfully completion of its share capital in- crease from December 10 to January 3. It was oversubscribed approximately 2.2 times. Total subscription orders for the capital increase came to over 29.1 million euros, which translates into a subscription rate of 100 percent. It added that its 2014 strategy will be further organic growth via Nova 3Play while preserving its cost rationalization approach.
CCHBC initiatives.
Coca-Cola Hellenic announced yesterday it has undertaken two initiatives to help the Greek economy, in contributing what it described as a “significant” amount of money to the Greece Debt Free corporation that is aimed at buying back Greek bonds, and in offering bottled water Avra for all European Union meetings to be held in the first half of the year in Greece in the context of the country’s EU presidency.