Greece’s Subsidized Tourism Program Accepting Applications

Greece’s Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) will be accepting applications starting Thursday, June 25, for parties eligible to receive state subsidies for tourism.

Starting at 10am on June 25, interested parties – individuals, hospitality and ferry services providers – can apply online at gov.gr to participate in OAED’s program which subsidizes holidays for workers, the unemployed and their families for the 2020-2021 period.

Under the program eligible recipients will receive an online voucher covering 81 percent of all travel costs and valid through to July 2021.

The application procedure closes on July 2, 2020 at 23:59.

It should be reminded that this is the first time the Labor Ministry will cover ferry fares and has increased the maximum duration of stays from five to six nights.

The move was announced earlier this month in an attempt to boost domestic travel and revive tourism after Covid-19. In this direction, the government tripled the budget for the 2020-2021 program from 10 million euros to 30 million euros.

The tourism subsidy scheme takes effect on August 1 and runs through to July 31, 2021 at all hotels on OAED’s partner list.

This year’s program will support 300,000 people, up from 140,000 last year, and ferry fare coverage is aimed at stimulating travel particularly to the Greek islands.

Other changes this year include support for up to 10 days of accommodation at 2- to 5-star hotels (on the OAED list) breakfast included; extra incentives for travel to the islands of Lesvos, Leros, Samos, Chios and Kos, and to the border region of Evros; and full coverage to people with disability.

More info (in Greek) can be found here.