Prime Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday evening outlined government policy in the sector of tourism at the annual general assembly of the Federation of Greek Tourist Enterprises (SETE).

Papandreou focused on the simplification of licensing procedures for enterprises. As he said, the founding of a Special Service for Serving and Licensing Tourist Investments for investments that cannot be included in the Fast Track is being examined.

As regards investments for tourist accomodation, Papandreou stressed that its development will take place in hotel units of four or five stars, while indicating in advance the change in the system of hotels' quality criteria.

The prime minister also announced the abolition of dues for third parties in coastal shipping tickets and the decrease of the "spatosimo"at the country's airports in the winter months.

In his address, Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos underlined that in the past year Greece managed, despite the crisis, to attract more tourists.