Hoteliers Cautious On Tourism Residential Accommodation

Greek hoteliers consider the tourism residential accommodation a necessary measure but under certain conditions, according to a survey carried out recently by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.

The survey, in which some 17 percent of the chamber’s members (1,644 members) participated, took place from mid-June to mid-July, ahead of the tabling of the omnibus bill in Parliament in July. The tabled omnibus bill established the framework of tourism investments and included special requirements for tourism residential accommodation.

According to the survey, 48 percent of Greek hoteliers said they were skeptical in regards to the tourism residential accommodation and have requested institutionalized terms and conditions for its inclusion within the Greek legal system.

On the other hand, 18 regional advisors of the South Aegean have reason to believe that the bill for the tourism residential accommodation would have a negative effect on tourism.

In an announcement, the advisors requested a dialogue with the government as they believe that if the bill becomes a law in its current form it would bring significant changes to the Greek islands, small hotel units and the environment.

On its part, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of the Environment and the Cultural Heritage said all islands, except those larger in size, should be exempt from the construction of tourism residential accommodation.

“The consequences of the bill would be irreversible and would alter the character of our country forever,” the society said in an open letter addressed to Greek MPs and signed by 10 environmental organizations.

The Greek party Ecologist Greens said that in the current form the tourism residential accommodation is at the expense of the environment and landscape.

The green party said the tourism residential accommodation could be promoted via renovations of buildings that already exist and are no longer in use such as the abandoned Xenia motels.

During a recent interview, Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos said that indeed tourism residential accommodation had been distorted very badly in other parts of the world and that he doesn’t want the same mistakes to be made in Greece.