Tourism Competitiveness Focus for 2007-2013

More than 5,500 business plans for tourism, valued at 550 million euros, have been approved so far, said Dimitris Sioufas, minister of development, at the national development meeting for the new competitive business program (EPAN) for 2007-2013. With tourism contributing 18 percent to the Greek economy, and more than 800,000 jobs, the government is committed to support its expansion.

Tourism Minister Fani Palli-Petralia said investments that meet the country’s tourism policy goals will be pushed forward. Ms Palli-Petralia outlined the ministry’s priorities including the need to diversify the tourism product, establish and/or upgrade hotels and other tourism infrastructure, promote Greece internationally as a safe and appealing destination, extend the tourism season and resolve zoning issues.

Spyros Efstathopoulos, special secretary for competitiveness, said that from March 2004 until today, the EPAN program has provided the Greek market with one billion euros, with the rate of funding absorption increasing to a very impressive 320 percent. With regards to the tourism sector, Mr. Efstathopoulos, said that funding absorption has increased from 7.9 percent in March 2004 to 52.1 percent today.