Since tourism accounts for about 18 percent of Greece's gross domestic product, while employing one in five workers, it makes sense that a stronger-than-ever effort in promoting tourism can be a major factor in curbing our country's deficit and lowering its monumental debt during the next three years.

So, just where is that effort?

It appears that the government is continuing with its annual minimal marketing campaign: attending the same old trade shows with the same boring exhibit and placing the same ineffective adverts on over-the-top television stations like CNN, where they are totally lost.

According to a poll of experienced advertising executives, Greece's tourism marketing campaign is ranked among the lowest, while those of our competitors, such as Cyprus, are considered extremely effective.

The tourism season is almost on top of us, but there still may be time. Let's bring in some talented marketing people to come up with a creative and aggressive tourism campaign that really works.

Let's face it. The Acropolis has been attracting visitors to Greece since it was built in the fifth century BC, but these days it could use a little help.