Greek Hoteliers Expect Strong Dynamic to Lift Tourism Above 2019 Levels

Tourists on Santorini’s volcano. Photo © GTP.

Greek hoteliers are expecting the strong tourism dynamic to continue into the year, pushing figures beyond pre-Covid 2019 levels.

In view of the upward trend, underlined the importance of implementing a set of priorities in order to maintain the momentum.

Tasios, who is also president of the Halkidiki Hotel Association, said July and August were covering lost ground recorded in May, which was a result, he said, mainly of poor weather impacting road tourism to Northern Greece. In addition to that, the fires in July affected bookings for September and October.

Hellenic Hoteliers Federation (POX) President Grigoris Tasios.

Tasios went on to add that he expects tourism flows this year to exceed pre-pandemic 2019 levels in most parts of the country, adding that 2023 was finally a “normal year”.

Referring to prices this year, Tasios said these are usually higher by 10-12 percent with large increases being exceptions to the rule. Key source markets supporting Greek tourism so far are the UK, Germany, France, the Netherlands, and Poland.

Lastly, Tasios is calling on the government to set the following priorities in order to ensure that the Greek tourism product remains competitive in the coming years: moving forward with sustainable development crucial in view of the climate crisis and the implementation of DMOs; formulating a clear and strict regulatory framework covering short-term tourist rental activity; and lastly, implementing a Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) proposal for a unified 11 percent VAT charge across all services related to tourism and transport.

The reduction in VAT tax has been an ongoing demand by hospitality and F&B services providers. Tasios has repeatedly called for a decrease in VAT on accommodation (to 6 percent from the current 13 percent), adding that rival markets are able to offer tourism services at larger discounts.