2017 Year in Review – GTP

The European Commission has announced the launch of the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2022 competition, an event that rewards European cities for their sustainable tourism practices.

The new stayover tax, which will be imposed on Greek hotels as of January 1, 2018, will be charged to guests and will not be subject to VAT.

Greece’s tourism sector is set to bear the brunt of the country’s economic recovery according to the economy ministry’s latest set of measures set to take effect in 2018.

The Presidential Decree that paves the way for the development of the multi-million-euro Hellinikon project was signed in Athens.

Aegean Airlines has informed travel agents that a Distribution Channel Fee (DCF) will be imposed on tickets booked through certain GDS systems.

The UNWTO has announced a roadmap for advancing the contribution of tourism towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Greek assets fund TAIPED signed an agreement for the sale of a 67% stake of the Thessaloniki Port Authority to SEGT Limited for 231,926 million euros.

Lampsa Hellenic Hotels SA has completed its investment projects in the center of Athens, marking its long-lasting presence in the tourism sector.

European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos recently stated that Schengen zone checks were both legal and carried out in most countries regularly.

The rebetiko music genre – known as the Greek blues – has been included on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list.

The first signs for the 2018 tourism season in Greece are positive, according to the president of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Yiannis Retsos.

Hospitality giant Wyndham Hotel Group announced that it will continue to expand its presence in Greece in 2018 in collaboration with Zeus International.

The “boutique hotels” certification platform of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels will officially launch on December 11.

Alexandros Vassilikos, CEO of AIROTEL Group of Hotels, has been appointed as the new president of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.

The rules property owners in Greece need to follow in order to legally rent out their homes or apartments for the short-term were officially made public.

A draft Presidential Decree, concerning the 1.5-billion-euro tourism investment of Atalanti Hills, has been submitted to the Council of State for approval.

Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias and his Indian counterpart signed an air services agreement for the launch of direct flights between the two countries.

The Greek Confederation of Tourist Accommodation Enterprises (SETKE) recently announced the launch of brands for lodgings in Greece.

Works on the Kastelli airport project on Crete are said to begin next spring after the finalization of the 480-million-euro deal and its parliamentary approval expected in early 2018.

Dozens of luxury villas and restaurants as well as a fiber optics network will be constructed on the Ionian islet of Skorpios.