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Sunday, May. 20, 2012 |  Syndicate content

Greece improves museums, sites for tourists: ministry

Page last updated at 11:48 GMT, Tuesday, November 29, 2011 - 16:48 EST

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Vancouver Sun:

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Greece’s culture ministry on Monday said it was improving services and amenities at nearly 200 archaeological sites and museums to encourage repeat visitors and keep its crisis-hit economy afloat.

"It was a necessary step even during the crisis. In fact, I’d say it is particularly necessary during a crisis," Culture Minister Pavlos Geroulanos told a news conference.

Ministry officials said the three-year overhaul launched 12 months ago had turned around facilities at 177 sites and museums, 118 of which had formerly lacked basic provisions for visitors, including functional toilets.

Even before 2010, when Greece was forced to seek bailout loans from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund, services at many archaeological sites were spartan.

"We found that Greece had one of the lowest rates in return visitors," Geroulanos said.

Read the whole story: Vancouver Sun

Greece-World News