Travel

Greece - Events of the Decade

2000-2009

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While what makes up a decade can be argued, what's clear is that the years 2000-2009 tranformed Greece. What stayed the same? The same things that have attracted travelers to Greece for thousands of years - sea, sun, sand, and cultural monuments.

1. Greece in the Year 2000

Remember Y2K, the belief that the computers of the world would freak out as the year rolled over from 1999 to 2000? Greece, along with the rest of the world, came through with flying colors and no drastic interruptions.

Recovery from the deadly earthquake in September 1999 continues.

The Express Samina ferry disaster, in which about 80 people are killed off of the island of Paros, jolts the Greek ferry industry and idles ferries throughout Greece.

Greece goes to the polls in April 2000, and re-ups PASOK's power.

The first frantic alarms about whether or not Greece can "handle" the Olympic Games after all are sounded, and the first shameful threats of pulling the Games from Greece are heard.

2. Greece in the Year 2001

Picture of Athens International Airport copyright by deTraci Regula; licensed to About.com

2001 was no "Space Odyssey" in Greece - it was a busy year for tourism and accusations that Greece would never be ready in time for the 2004 Athens Olympics. The new Athens International Airport at Spata opened on March 29th 2001, replacing the tired old Athens Airport with a sparkling new facility.

But then 9/11 happened, sending world tourism into a downward spiral which won't really lift until 2005.

The national census in 2001 counts 10,964,020 Greeks.

In the movies, "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" raises awareness of Cephalonia and the island economy enjoys a lift.

3. Greece in the Year 2002

Advent of the Euro; pictures of Euro bills and coins

Picture of the Euro by deTraci Regula; licensed to About.com

In 2002, Greece says goodbye to what is probably the most historic currency on earth: the drachma. It gives way to the Euro, as Greece has qualified to use the common currency, though that process will later be questioned as Greece experiences financial problems later in the decade.

4. Greece in the Year 2003

Those rumblings that Greece will never be ready for the upcoming 2004 Olympic Games grow stronger, and there is more talk of pulling the Games from Greece.

But preparations are underway. Many hotels - especially luxury ones - are closing for renovations ahead of the Games, and some monuments are also inaccessible to visitors.
Looking Ahead for Greek Tourism in 2003
Curious as to what was happening during the Hellenic Festival 2003 at the Regilla & Herod Atticus Theater? Here's the schedule from 2003.

5. Greece in the Year 2004

American Rebecca Giddens takes Silver in the Kayak Slalom

Picture by deTraci Regula; licensed to About.com

The Olympic Year
Maligned by the media internationally, Greece puts on a glorious Olympic Games with perfect security and a dramatically moving Opening Ceremony. Sadly, many events are underattended, especially by the Americans who heed persistent security warnings and stay away in droves.

The Greek government under New Democracy recreates the position of Minister of Tourism (technically, Minister for Touristic Development) and appoints Dimitris Avramopolos, who holds the position until 2006. He actively encourages film companies to consider using Greece in their movies, though key monuments are still off-limits to directors.

6. Greece in the Year 2005

Greece tourism builds after the Olympic Games, and those who missed the Games make up for it by rushing to Greece and the Greek islands, aided by a strong international economy. Tourism starts to feel the effects of a relatively new group of world travelers, from Russia and former Soviet Bloc nations.

7. Greece in the Year 2006

Sales of sunshine homes for Northern Europeans reach record price levels and new construction invades many pristine hillsides and crowds out more than a few ancient olive trees.

Visitors from Russia and former Soviet Bloc nations continue to rise, and signs and menus start to add a few new languages.

Dora Bakoyannis becomes the first female Prime Minister of Greece.

Fani Palli-Petralia replaces Avramopolis as Minister of Tourism.

8. Greece in the Year 2007

Economic problems in two of the nations providing the most tourists to Greece, the UK and Germany, keep visitor numbers from traditionally strong countries down. But the newly rich in many former Soviet Bloc nations pick up much of the slack.

Aris Spiliotopoulos replaces Fani Palli-Petralia as Minister of Tourism.

The Louis Cruises ship The Sea Diamond sinks in the caldera of the island of Santorini; two passengers are never found and are presumed dead.

9. Greece in the Year 2008

"Mamma Mia the Movie" brought thousands of visitors to Greece

Universal Pictures

Economic problems continue to grow worldwide, and a U.S. recession starts to take its toll on visitors to Greece. But the "Mamma Mia Effect" - the wildly popular movie shot in Greece - offsets some of it and locations used in the movie experience a boom which persists into 2009.

But for the Greeks, this is not a picture-perfect year. The December riots cast a pall on the nation, and unnerve potential tourists.

10. Greece in the Year 2009

Milos Bicanski/Getty Images. Used by permission.

Greek political party New Democracy loses the fall elections, bringing in a new era of power for PASOK.

Mixed reactions greet the alleged action of a Greek woman who sets fire to a reportedly pushy Brit, in a rather delicate area.

Kostas Markopoulos replaces Aris Spiliotopolos as Minister of Tourism.

And the long-heralded sale of Olympic Airways finally goes through, and it is purchased by the Marfin Investment Group. The company is renamed Olympic Air and begins operating in the last days of September, 2009.

11. Greece in the Year 2010

2010 was a tumultous year for Greece as it faced a major financial crisis which is still unfolding.