George Grafakos, CEO Aqua Vista Hotels

Official Tourism Message

Marking six years since the establishment of an ambitious endeavor called “Aqua Vista Hotels”, and in view of recent events in our country that have only further impacted the already afflicted tourism industry, I would really like to wish a better future for us all.

In the last three years, Greek tourism has achieved the impossible: to break record after record year by year, continuously raising the bar alone and serving as the only source of growth in our country, but unfortunately it can do so no longer.

And all this with in a state which does everything in its power to make the task more difficult; increasing value-added tax, abolishing special reduced rates, swelling taxation, tightening bureaucracy and raising a series of other obstacles that do not allow Greek tourism to grow. Sometimes I feel we are literally sawing away at the branch we are sitting on.

All of us here at Aqua Vista Hotels have made and continue to make enormous efforts so that all these shortcomings do not in any way affect the consumer, and as a result injure the image of our country.

I believe that this is our big chance. We must put aside our differences now and come together to ensure that Greek tourism wins the spot it deserves: at the top of Europe.

Greek tourism can and must reach the peak. We are the only ones who can hinder its progress. So let us try as a nation to remain focused and stop sabotaging ourselves.