Greece welcomed a decision Thursday, June 30th, 2005, by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to improve the country's flight-standards rating, saying it was a boost for the country's vital tourism industry. Greece was raised from Category 2 to Category 1 in the U.S. International Aviation Assessment.

''This is a national success accomplished after persistent and systematic effort,'' Transport Minister Michalis Liapis said.

The FAA's rating system concerns the quality of the civil aviation services of countries which provide flights to the United States and not of individual airlines. Most nations in Category 2 rating are in Africa and South America.

Tourism, with vacations to Mediterranean beaches and ancient monuments, generates 18 percent of Greece's gross domestic product, according to the Tourism Ministry.

To improve the Greek flight rating, the Transport Ministry was advised by SH&E International Air Transport Consultancy, a New York-based company that works with the FAA. Greece welcomed a decision by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration to improve the country's flight-standards rating, saying it was a boost for the country's vital tourism industry.

The FAA's rating system concerns the quality of the civil aviation services of countries which provide flights to the United States and not of individual airlines. Most nations in Category 2 rating are in Africa and South America.