SETE Updates Greek Finance Minister on Key Tourism Matters

Key tourism issues and challenges were addressed during a meeting on Wednesday, between Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) President Yiannis Retsos and Finance Minister Christos Staikouras.

Retsos and his team briefed the minister on areas of priority for the tourism sector with particular emphasis on taxation, short-term rentals, airport infrastructure, and implementing the public investment program – all of which will contribute to improving the competitiveness of the Greek tourist product.

More specifically, scrapping a stayover tax which took effect last year or applying it for a three-month period, reducing taxation across all tourism services, regulating the short term rental market and identifying illegal operations were demands made by SETE.

Staikouras and Retsos exchanged views and agreed to work together on ways to upgrade the tourism product by tapping into new technologies and innovation.

In a statement following the meeting, the ministry said “cooperation with SETE will continue and will be strengthened with the aim of supporting tourism, one of the ‘locomotives’ of the Greek economy”.

Speaking to the Financial Times earlier this month, Staikouras said “some special taxes” imposed during the years of austerity would be phased out, pledging tax cuts “across the board including income, corporate tax and VAT in efforts to “boost growth”.

SETE also held a meeting with Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis earlier this week to brief him on issues requiring immediate attention.