Greek PM Vows to Support Tourism Sector Work Force

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (right) speaking during a meeting with Rhodes tourism professionals. Photo Source: Primeminister.gr

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Friday that the state would be supporting tourism sector employees who have been affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.

Speaking at a meeting with Rhodes tourism professionals, Mitsotakis committed to provide for tourism sector employees, particularly seasonal staff in the “hard winter ahead”, to preserve as many jobs as possible, and to protect income “until the next tourist season, which I want to believe, I am almost certain, will be very different”, he said.

Photo Source: @Primeministergr

The prime minister added that seasonal enterprises, those that generate over 50 percent of their turnover in the summer will be eligible for support, adding that the government has also paved the way for banking flexibility as well as provided financial options from the EU recovery fund, which he said can be directed into hotel renovations and upgrades while employees are subsidized during this time.

Finally, Mitsotakis referred to the challenging conditions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, noting that all efforts were being made to salvage the tourism season while at the same time the government was tapping into resources that will help rectify past mistakes and “rebuild the tourism product on new, healthier foundations”.