Emergency Funding for Greek Tour Bus Professionals Approved

A total of 21,007,300 euros in relief aid to be allocated to Greek tourism enterprises operating tour buses was approved this week, Tourism Minister Harry Theoharis announced on Tuesday.

The emergency funding – to cover losses incurred in July and August 2020 – is aimed at providing much needed relief for sector businesses which own and run tour buses and have suffered a blow due to restrictions imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Theoharis announced the joint ministerial decision before meeting with General Panhellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises (GEPOET), which represents tourist agencies and operators as well as tourist coach companies in Greece.

Companies eligible for the funding will receive on average 3,600 euros for each bus, with an 0.87-euro subsidy for each reserved seat per month.

GEPOET President Aris Marinis expressed the federation’s satisfaction with the decision. “This is a very important economic breath for the people in our industry who were so affected by the coronavirus pandemic, especially in the summer,” he said.

“The coronavirus pandemic has brought about major changes in the way we operate. It demands that we take the necessary initiatives without delay in order to support all tourism professionals and, of course, the tour bus sector. The health protocols which must be implemented with utmost consistency and diligence do not allow buses to operate full capacity,” said Minister Theoharis.