New Funding Options for Green Agritourism Enterprises in Greece 

Business owners in Greece investing in sustainable agritourism projects will be able to tap into a total of 49 million euros in funding, the Agriculture Ministry announced this week, with the application process opening on July 5.

The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) funds will be channeled into projects that connect agricultural activity and farming with tourism creating a new tourism product.

The aim of the program is to include farmers in the value chain and enhance the competitiveness and recognizability of local products through their promotion at tourist destinations and inclusion in experiential agritourism activities.

Interested parties can apply here from July 5 to September 30.

Businesses eligible must present plans with an investment budget ranging from 500,000 euros to 7.5 million euros for very small, small and medium-sized  enterprises and from 7.5 million euros to 12.5 million euros for large enterprises. 

Subsidies range from 15 to 50 percent of the total investment and are determined by company size and location.

Funding is open to very small, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or large enterprises that:

– offer food and agrifood products to visitors within the facility or at a location where experiential tourism services are provided 

– products or raw materials come from local farming activity. 

Additionally, businesses active in the following economic activities (NACE) can also apply for funding:

-NACE 55: accommodation

-NACE 56: food and beverages activities

-NACE 79: travel agencies, tour operators and booking services and related activities

-NACE 90: creative activities, arts and entertainment

-NACE 91: libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities

-NACE 93: sports and leisure activities.

With regard to accommodation facilities, funding covers the establishment of: 

-5-, 4- or 3-star hotels with a minimum capacity of 10 rooms and 20 beds

-5- or 4-star hotels with furnished rooms with a minimum capacity of 30 beds

-rooms for rent (4 keys) with a minimum capacity of five rooms and 10 beds

-furnished apartments for rent (4 keys) with a minimum capacity of five rooms and 10 beds

-furnished houses for tourist accommodation purposes. 

Among others, business owners must invest in “green transition” actions including at least one of the following:

– investments in building installations to achieve a higher energy efficiency 

-investments in mechanical equipment with reduced energy consumption

-upgrade to reduced emission vehicles 

-investments in RES

-investments in water management infrastructure 

-investments in mechanical equipment that contributes to water savings

-the implementation of an experiential agritourism plan

-promotion of local gastronomy

-promotion of the local cultural heritage through agricultural activities

-cooperation with local companies and institutions towards the creation of experiential tourism actions.