Get him to the Greek (Isles): GNTO's Chris at the Bay Area Travel & Adventure Show

Greek authorities are confident the country can build on the tourism growth achieved last year despite continuing uncertainty over the European economy. And the United States remains a key market for the country.

¡°Greece is a year-round destination, so right now is really a good time to enjoy all that Greece has to offer,¡± Consulate General of Greece Ioannis Andreadis told e-Travel Blackboard at a Greek National Tourism Organization dinner in San Francisco.

As the Euro debt crisis shows no signs of letting up, Greece sees tourism as a key contributor to economic recovery.

Bank of Greece figures show international tourism receipts rose 9.45 per cent last year to 10.5 billion euros (US$13.8 billion), according to the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises.

¡°¡®Filoxenia¡¯ is a Greek word ¨C it means the friend of the foreigners,¡± Mr Andreadis said.

¡°We rely a lot on visitors and offer a wholehearted hospitality to everybody.

¡°Everybody who once visited Greece always has the tendency to return back and visit more times because they enjoy not only the landscape and the adventure in Greece, but also the warm hospitality of the Greeks.¡±

The Greek National Tourism Organization and its New York-based director Chryssanthos Petsilas were in San Francisco for the Bay Area Travel and Adventure Show in Santa Clara.