Greek Hoteliers to Bear Brunt of Proposed Taxes by up to 147.6m Euros

Greek hoteliers may be faced with up to 147.6 million euros in additional taxes should the government decide to go ahead with the proposed levies on tourism it has announced recently.

According to the Institute for Tourism Research and Forecasts (ITEP) released by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (HCH) last week, with regard to the repercussions of an added tax depending on accommodation category ranging from 1 euro to 5 euros per night, the additional burden to the hotel industry is estimated at 147.6 million euros, accounting for approximately 14.6 percent of total business turnover.

This figure will weigh down the islands of the South Aegean even more, coming to 143.251 million euros due to the large number of accommodation units and overnight stays.

At the same time, the government also discussed the imposition of a 5 percent, 4 percent and 3 percent tax on revenue from overnight stays in three- to five-star hotels on Aegean islands with over 3,100 residents, which, if applied, will weigh down the hotel business by 64.3 million euros, accounting for 6.2 percent of total business turnover.