Greece Levies Low Tourism Taxes

Travellers on a typical package tour pay an average of $276 in tax for their vacation, according to a study of 52 countries published in Greece. The survey was commissioned by the Association of Greek Tourist Enterprises.

Professor B. Patsouratis, in his survey entitled “The Taxation Burden On Tourism,” says that tourism is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world and makes a major contribution to gross domestic product, employment and foreign exchange earnings.

“In recent years, the taxes levied on the tourism product, on an international level, have become one of the biggest operating costs for the tourism industry, resulting in taxation now making up a significant portion of the total cost of a holiday (14.3%),” he writes.

Greece, however, is relatively competitive in that its ranks towards the bottom of a table for taxation on tourism. Levies on a trip to Greece, which ranks 41st out of 52 countries surveyed, are comparatively low.

Travellers pay an average of $206.20 in tax on a tour package to Greece, compared to the median figure of $276 quoted in the study for all countries considered.