2018 Year in Review – GTP

A total of 411.5 million euros will be allocated to 2,527 small and medium-sized tourism enterprises in Greece, the Greek Economy and Development Ministry announced.

The five islands that have received the main burden of refugee flows in Greece will continue to receive a 30 percent discount on VAT rates.

The UN has adopted a resolution, brought in by Greece, for the “return or restitution of cultural property to the countries of origin”.

AADE has decided to use online “search robots” to track down taxpayers, who have failed to join the e-registry for short-term rentals.

Destination management is essential for the future of Greece’s tourism sector, according to the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).

Greece’s airports recorded a “historic high” in passenger traffic during January-November 2018, according to the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA).

A bid by Athens International Airport SA for the 20-year extension of its concession agreement has been approved by the European Commission.

Great prospects have opened for Greece in the field of thermal tourism, according to European Historic Thermal Towns Association (EHTTA) President Giuseppe Bellandi.

Greek State revenue has increased by a massive 160 percent, driven by declared home-sharing income, according to the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE).

Athens International Airport (AIA) is among the leading 25 airports in Europe in terms of passenger traffic, according to data released by Eurostat.

The high satisfaction of guests in Athens is among the top priorities of the new Board of Directors of the Athens – Attica & Argosaronic Hotel Association.

Greece has passed a bill covering thematic and special interest tourism, the upgrade of tourism training and the strengthening of entrepreneurship.

An amendment to a law on the licensing terms for casino operations in Greece is expected to set the Hellinikon development project into action.

The Greek island of Corfu was chosen from among 12 European destinations and won the 2018 European Film Location Award, a competition launched by the EUFCN.

The ministries of economy and shipping presented the new e-registry for Greek-flagged private and professional leisure boats and professional boats under foreign flags.

Greece has joined PATA as a European country member, gaining the opportunity to claim its market share from the different markets of the Pacific Asia region.

Greece ranks high as an education destination for US students, with 4,351 visiting the country in the 2016-17 academic year, which is a 21.1 percent increase.

As 2018 comes to a close, the Greek Tourism Ministry issued an update on figures, which back positive forecasts for a record year in tourism.

The Greece-Russia Year of Tourism 2017-2018 initiative wrapped up with a big music and dance event held at the Athens Concert Hall (Megaron).

Airlines will be required to provide the Greek Police with data on passengers traveling into or out of Greece, as the country harmonizes with the EU’s PNR Directive.