Greek Hotel Sector Needs Support, Not Taxes, Says HHF President

Hellenic Hoteliers Federation President Yiannis Hatzis. Photo source: HHF

The Greek hotel industry significantly contributes to public revenue, with a direct impact of 10.5 billion euros on GDP and the support of 225,000 jobs, according to Hellenic Hoteliers Federation (HHF) President Yiannis Hatzis.

Speaking at the federation’s 3rd Regional Conference held on Zakynthos, Hatzis highlighted the pivotal role hotels play in local economies, particularly in island regions, where they account for 90 percent of regional GDP and nearly 70 percent of tourism GDP.

During his speech, he underscored that the government should focus on protecting the competitiveness of the Greek tourism product rather than taxing hotel revenues.

“The contribution of hotels is the backbone of local economies, especially on the islands,” Hatzis noted. He went on to add the need for collaboration with public authorities on issues such as infrastructure and destination management. “We need a dialogue that leads to practical decisions to upgrade the quality of the hotel product and to address the ongoing issue of financing for smaller, family-run hotels.”

Hatzis also responded to recent government announcements about additional taxation for hotels, expressing the sector’s concerns.

“Now is not the time to tax income further,” he said, advocating instead for initiatives that protect the industry’s competitiveness. He referenced the World Economic Forum’s rankings, noting, “Greece ranks 28th globally in tourism sector competitiveness, while all other sectors in the country rank much lower.”

Hatzis stressed the importance of the tourism sector to Greece’s import-export balance, particularly in light of increasing imports and slowing export growth. “The travel balance is what truly supports our import-export stability. Our hotel sector is successful, but that does not mean it should bear an undue burden,” he said.

In closing, Hatzis emphasized the need to continue supporting the tourism industry, which remains vital to Greece’s economic health amid broader financial challenges.

“Our sector’s success is clear, but this success should not be taken for granted as a solution to the country’s financial problems,” he stressed.