Amendments To Tourism Legislation

Last month, the ministry of tourism development submitted two amendments to parliament to be reviewed with the so-called spa tourism legislation already under discussion. One amendment is to establish an office for tourism investment and the other to hire additional personnel at the ministry for pressing and unforeseen needs.

The tourism investment office will come under the ministry and will serve as the coordinating body for investments. The office will provide information and assistance to investors, particularly foreigners, on the process, prerequisites and timelines. Also, the office will monitor investments being carried out and provide project support.

The so-called spa tourism legislation is expected to become law soon. The new legislation initially designed two years ago to promote spa tourism, evolved into a detailed document with provisions to resolve many of the chronic problems affecting tourism development in Greece. Tourism Minister Fani Palli-Petralia said, “this is significant for the future of Greece’s tourism. This legislation opens the road for new initiatives and markets, and regulates the problems that affected those in the tourism sector.”