Greek PM: 2023 was a New Milestone Year for Tourism

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in conversation with Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE)President Yiannis Paraschis during the 32nd General Assembly of SETE.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Thursday said that 2023 marked a “new milestone year” for Greece’s tourism sector, while cautioning that the sector must not become complacent despite a promising outlook for 2024.

Last year represented a significant turning point for tourism in Greece as the country saw a substantial increase in inbound tourists, surpassing 36 million visitors and exceeding pre-pandemic levels reported in 2019.

During the 32nd General Assembly of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) in Athens, Mitsotakis emphasized Greece’s strong performance in various aspects of tourism.

“We have every reason to be satisfied with the overall performance of Greek tourism,” the prime minister stated while in conversation with SETE President Yiannis Paraschis. The Greek PM highlighted improvements in arrivals, revenue, employment, and crisis management.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

When asked about his assessment of Greek tourism’s progress this year, Mitsotakis credited the industry’s professionals for their achievements.

“The great successes of Greek tourism are primarily due to you, the tourism professionals—those who take risks, invest, and make us world champions in an economically vital sector crucial to our national development strategy,” he said.

However, the prime minister cautioned against complacency, noting that Greece’s competitors are continually advancing.

“We must invest in quality and sustainability. Tourism development should be sustainable, resilient, fair, and participatory. The benefits of development should be distributed as fairly as possible across the country,” he added.

PM: Short-term rental market is a ‘complex issue’

“The short-term rental market is a complex issue that needs thorough study,” said Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

During their conversation, the Greek Prime Minister and SETE’s president discussed various sector-related issues, including the further regulation of the short-term rental market.

Addressing the topic, Mitsotakis noted that following the tax-related legislative measures introduced last December, the government is considering additional restrictions on the short-term rental market.

“I say ‘maybe’ because it is a complex issue that needs thorough study,” the prime minister said. “Short-term renting, when it becomes a professional activity beyond renting a house for a few days a year, affects both the tourism market and the housing market by reducing the availability of long-term rentals.”

“We are examining the issue with the Minister of Finance and are not prepared to provide further details at this time,” Mitsotakis added.

The Greek Prime Minister also mentioned that employer contributions to staff wages will be reduced as soon as fiscal conditions allow. He emphasized that a primary focus of the government’s policy is to increase wages.

“Workers in tourism should be well-paid and satisfied with their working conditions,” he stated.

Boosting tourism education

According to the Greek PM, the government will soon announce the details of a new fund, which will specifically address decarbonisation and sustainable development actions for the Greek islands.

The Greek Prime Minister also highlighted the government’s priority to further invest in tourism education.

According to Mitsotakis, the goal is for young Greeks to view tourism as a viable “career path” rather than just a sector offering basic services.

“We need to open career paths for young people in tourism. This requires further investment in education, and we still have a long way to go,” he emphasized.

“If we want to maintain our global competitiveness in tourism, we must also provide globally competitive education services for young people pursuing this profession,” Mitsotakis added.

While discussing the green transition and the sustainability of Greek tourism, Mitsotakis announced that the government will soon unveil details of a new fund specifically aimed at supporting decarbonization and sustainable development initiatives for the Greek islands.

“We are launching this fund, for which we have secured resources, to ensure the critical resilience of our destinations in managing natural resources,” he said.