Greek Hoteliers Welcome New Social Tourism Program

The subsidized social tourism holiday program that was canceled last year will re-launch this fall, according to an announcement made on 22 May by Greek Labor Minister Yiannis Vroutsis.

The announcement was made during the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels’ Board of Directors meeting.

The program – that is expected to benefit the country’s domestic tourism market – will be available for 110,000 beneficiaries and under a budget of 10 million euros.

According to the announcement, the program will run by the Greek Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) and launch on 16 September 2013 in an aim to extend Greece’s tourism season.

The re-activation of the social tourism program is expected to boost tourism traffic in hotels on destinations that traditionally absorbed Greek tourists that participated in the program.

The annual programs – that covered part of the cost of holidays of beneficiaries – were canceled in early 2012 when the organization that provided the programs was abolished as demanded by Greece’s creditors in exchange for a new bailout loan.