Covid-19: Greek Tourism is More United than Ever, Says SETE

While Greece’s tourism activity is still on hold due to Covid-19, the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) on Friday said that the sector is moving forward together, more united than ever, “in an unprecedented crisis”.

The statement was made by SETE President Yiannis Retsos on social media on Friday, following a teleconference between the 13 pan-hellenic unions of tourism enterprises* that the confederation represents.

During the teleconference, the actions taken by the confederation so far were evaluated; the huge challenges of the country’s tourism restart – always in relation with safeguarding health – were discussed in depth; and each of the 13 bodies highlighted the challenging issues concerning their individual sectors.

Retsos said that SETE will restate the tourism sector’s (most important) realistic requests to Greece’s Prime Minister and the government. The requests will focus on:

– the restart requirements for tourism businesses regarding health protocols,
– subsidizing businesses (to reduce labor costs) and supporting the unemployed,
– reducing the VAT rate on tourism,
– and for income tax advance payments of businesses to be waived for all of 2020.

“The sector has supported the country in the difficult years of the financial crisis and in the face of the new challenge, united, and with the appropriate support of the state, will try to make a comeback with as few losses as possible and recover stronger,” Retsos said.

* The pan-hellenic unions of tourism enterprises that SETE represents include HHF (Hellenic Hotel Federation), SETKE (Confederation of Entrepreneurs of Greek Tourism Enterprises), SΕΕΝ (Association of Passenger Shipping Companies), HAPCO (Hellenic Association of Professional Congress Organizers), HATTA (Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies), HPYOA (Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association), GSRA (Greek Car Rental Companies Association), GEPOET (General Pan – Hellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises), HACA (Hellenic Air Carriers Association), HATEOA – Association of Hellenic Outdoor Activities Enterprises, ELIME (Hellenic Ports Association), SΑΑΕ (Hellenic Association of Airline Representatives) and GMA (Greek Marinas Association).