Minister Announces Greek Tourism Development ‘Book’ for 2030-2035

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni announced on Tuesday the creation of a “Book of Tourism Transformation and Development”, a comprehensive plan aimed at guiding and shaping the future of tourism in Greece from 2030 to 2035.

The minister made the announcement during her latest speech at the Standing Committee on Production and Trade of the Hellenic Parliament, where she presented a series of interventions and measures to be included in the draft bill titled “Enhancement of tourist infrastructure and education; modernization of the framework for the profession of tourist guides and timeshare leases; regulations for tourism bodies, and other provisions for the strengthening of tourism”.

Describing the initiative, Kefalogianni emphasized that the “Book for Tourism Transformation and Development” will provide strategic direction for the growth of Greece’s tourism industry in the coming years.

Covering the period from 2030 to 2035, the “Book” will adopt a comprehensive approach to the tourist market, encompassing chapters such as Market Research and Analysis, Strategic Studies, Roadmaps for Interventions, and Implementation Plans for Research Findings and Proposals.

Draft tourism bill

Moreover, while presenting the draft tourism bill, the minister emphasized the aim of setting long-term goals to maximize the gains from tourism for the country, ensuring these advantages reach as broad a segment of society as possible. Kefalogianni highlighted the intention to support and enhance the “precious human resources of Greek tourism—the businesspersons, the workers, the creative young people, and everyone contributing to the rich tradition of tourism.”

Building upon last year’s legislation, which established institutions such as the Regional Tourism Council, the Mediterranean Coastal and Maritime Tourism Observatory, and the Wine Tourism Council, the new draft bill also prioritizes sustainable tourism development.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni. Photo source: Tourism Ministry

Yet, in addition to long-term planning measures, the draft law aims to address pressing regulatory issues in the Greek tourism market, including:

– strengthening the framework for Destination Management and Marketing Organizations (DMMOs) and their integration with the tourism market
– solving issues regarding the granting of environmental operation licenses for tourism businesses and infrastructure
– regulation of luxury camping (glamping) sites
– increasing of berthing docks in marinas
– support for niche tourism markets.

Regarding tourism education, the minister said that the bill includes provisions allowing graduates of college-level tourism and hospitality programs to enroll in similar university programs without having to undergo entrance exams.

The draft bill has already undergone public discussion, concluding in June, and is currently being presented to various parliamentary committees before the Tourism Ministry brings it to a vote in Parliament.

In addition to outlining different sections of the draft law, the minister also presented positive statistics regarding the Greek tourist market for the first four months of 2024. She noted a 20 percent increase in incoming tourist traffic from January to April 2023 compared to 2022, along with a 22 percent rise in traveler income. These results were attributed to the extension of the tourism season beyond the peak months of demand.