travel briefs 1/27

Digs at Athens airport unearth antiquity trove

ATHENS, Greece -- Enough antiquities and relics to fill 4,000 crates have been unearthed by archaeologists excavating land at Athens' new airport and tracts destined to be covered by a highway, reports say.

Experts digging near the area of Spata, about 18 miles east of Athens, have uncovered such a large number of ancient objects that a nearby museum may be expanded to display them, Greek media say.

The objects are presently stored in crates.

The excavations were from digs at the new international airport in Spata, which opened last year, and along the planned highway route leading to the airport.

The media gave no account of what was found at the site.

Antiquities are unearthed in almost every construction project in Greece. Ancient items found during the digging of the Athens subway are displayed at some stations.

Orlando, Fla., tourism to recover by 2003

ORLANDO, Fla. -- It will take well into next year before Orlando's tourism industry recovers to 2000 levels, area tourism officials say.

Orlando's tourism industry took a hit in 2001 from the recession and the Sept. 11 attacks, but total visitation is expected to resume growing in the second half of this year, according to researchers with the Orlando-Orange County Convention and Visitors Center.

The leisure market is expected to recover sooner than the business market, says Kelly Repass, the bureau's director of research.

--From wire reports