Greek Tourism’s Expectations From New Government, SETE

Five steps are needed to support Greek tourism, SETE said prior to the country’s parliamentary elections in May.

1. Schengen visa facilitation: The current procedure for obtaining a visa deprives Greece of three to five million tourists, five to seven billion euros and 60,000 to 100,000 new jobs.
2. VAT: Tourism professionals have requested a unitary 6.5 percent rate on the entire travel package and for the VAT on catering services to be reduced from 23 to 13 percent.
3. Airport costs: A 50 percent reduction of the spatosimo tax and a cut in the costs at Athens International Airport has been requested.
4. Athens center: The problems of the Greek capital must immediately be solved so it could win back visitors.
5. Special zoning plan for tourism: SETE has requested for the special zoning plan for tourism to be revised as the current plan was “a rough draft and not specific.”