Greece Presents Ambitious Post-bailout Tourism Plan

Taxation, the sharing economy, capital controls, spatial planning, investments and tourism are among the many areas covered in a 106-page development plan which Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras presented to his cabinet recently.

Titled “Greece: A Growth Strategy for the Future”, the plan is an effort by the Greek finance ministry to map out the next steps as the country prepares to exit its third and final bailout program in August.

Greek PM Alexis Tsipras.

The Greek government has made tourism a high priority with ambitious plans that include the creation of tourist villages set to host EU nationals for a six-month period, allowing them to transfer their tax residence to Greece.

Proposals also include ways to link tourism to the agro-industry, attracting more investments in tourism sector areas as well as enhancing the country’s digital presence.

With an outlook to 2020, government officials aim to establish Greece as one of the top five European destinations and among the top three in the Mediterranean specializing in experiential travel.

Lindos, Rhodes island.

Measures to be implemented over the 2018-2019 period include a special program to take effect on Rhodes and Crete promoting year-round tourism and business activity; an EU-funded training and employment program for small and medium-sized enterprises in thematic tourism; support of agricultural production and its link to tourism; a model ensuring year-long tourism in Southern Crete and Southern Rhodes backed by new hotel units catering to medical tourism, senior travel, golf and conference tourism; incentives to attract investments with emphasis on health and spa tourism, marinas, ports-cruise tourism, resorts and theme parks; upgrade schemes for hotel facilities and services.

The government plan also aims to tackle the thorny subject of short-term rentals as well as offering incentives and simplifying licensing procedures to attract foreign film productions to Greece.