Laws, Regulations & Policy Greek Visa Policy Subject To Change by GTP editing team 1 April 2010 by GTP editing team 1 April 2010 Greek tourism would get a boost if visa procedures for entry permits to Greece are less complicated, agreed Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos and Alternate Foreign Minister Dimitris Droutsas … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Lifting Of Cabotage Discussed Once Again by GTP editing team 1 April 2010 by GTP editing team 1 April 2010 Cabotage restrictions must be lifted immediately so foreign-flag cruise ships could use Greek harbors as homeports by 2011, President of the Greek Shipowners’ Association for Passenger Ships Markos Foros stressed … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Tourism Sector Opposes 15% VAT Plan by GTP editing team 1 February 2010 by GTP editing team 1 February 2010 The increase of the Value Added Tax to 15 percent would be disastrous for Greek tourism, the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) said recently in response to conflicting statements … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Hunting Ban Dropped To Support Small Hotels by GTP editing team 1 February 2010 by GTP editing team 1 February 2010 The government’s excuse for lifting the hunting ban in favor of protecting small hotels and related businesses is worthy of mockery, the Hellenic Society for the Protection of Nature recently … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Land Transportation Proposal For Bus And Coach Passenger Rights Tabled by GTP editing team 1 February 2010 by GTP editing team 1 February 2010 A proposal that involves passenger rights for bus and coach transport was adopted at the European Union Council of Transport Ministers held in December in Brussels. The proposal aims to … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Greece Expected To Get Visa-Free Travel To U.S. by GTP editing team 1 February 2010 by GTP editing team 1 February 2010 Greece is soon expected to obtain visa waiver status as it is considered only a matter of time to join the United States’ Visa Waiver Program (VWP), according to Europolitics, … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy E.U. Package Travel Directive To Be Revised by GTP editing team 1 January 2010 by GTP editing team 1 January 2010 The current European Union law on package travel—the Package Travel Directive—was drawn up in 1990 and is no longer suited for today’s travel market and will be renewed, E.U. Consumer … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Private Yachts To Be Taxed by GTP editing team 1 January 2010 by GTP editing team 1 January 2010 Professional yachts will be exempt from the extraordinary tax and annual special tax on yachts, inflicted by the previous government, by April 2010, according to Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Minister … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Sojourn Tax Again Causes Friction by Nikos Krinis 1 December 2009 by Nikos Krinis 1 December 2009 The increase of the sojourn tax—imposed on hotels and other private businesses that operate in tourist regions by local governments—is unconstitutional and without substantial benefit, said the Hellenic Chamber of … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Minister Promises Review Of Yacht Tax by Nikos Krinis 1 December 2009 by Nikos Krinis 1 December 2009 It is not rational for marine tourism to be taxed differently than other tourism sectors especially in the time of crisis, Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Minister Louka Katseli recently said. 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Cabotage Elimination Requested Once Again by Nikos Krinis 16 October 2009 by Nikos Krinis 16 October 2009 The cabotage law that forbids foreign flag cruise ships to homeport in Greece has destroyed Greek cruise, the president of the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, Yiorgos Gratsos, recently stressed. 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Tax Cheats Uncovered In Greek Tourism Sector by Nikos Krinis 1 October 2009 by Nikos Krinis 1 October 2009 Many Greek tourism businesses were found guilty of tax cheating, according to the Finance Ministry’s special inspections service YPEE. 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Destinations news Downtown Athens Awaits Stepped Up Law Enforcement by Nikos Krinis 1 September 2009 by Nikos Krinis 1 September 2009 Tourism Minister Kostas Markopoulos called a meeting during the summer to focus on the issue of security in downtown Athens on the occasion of the peak tourist season. 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Draft Law On Yacht Tax Criticized by GTP editing team 1 September 2009 by GTP editing team 1 September 2009 Associations that represent professional and private owners of yachts have reacted to the draft law of the Ministry of Economy and Finance that levies new taxes on the yachting industry. 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Event News Greece Focuses On U.S. Visa Waiver Program by GTP editing team 1 August 2009 by GTP editing team 1 August 2009 Greece’s long-awaited inclusion in the U.S. visa waiver program is expected to take place by the end of the year, according to negotiations at the recent summit of the 56-nation … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy EPEST Reacts To New Tax Measures by GTP editing team 1 August 2009 by GTP editing team 1 August 2009 Finance Minister Yiannis Papathanasiou recently announced measures to tackle tax dodging in the sector of leisure boats, which caused a negative reaction from the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association (EPEST). 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy Zoning Law For Tourism Approved by Nikos Krinis 1 June 2009 by Nikos Krinis 1 June 2009 The Greek Government Committee recently approved the controversial planned zoning law for tourism despite reactions of environmentalists, hoteliers and civil engineers and its rejection by an expert committee. 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Air Travel General Aviation Still An Issue by Nikos Krinis 1 June 2009 by Nikos Krinis 1 June 2009 Greece’s aviation laws must correspond with those of European legislation and of the international market if the country wants to attract aviation tourism, was the main conclusion of the fourth … 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Air Travel New Tourism Measures Support Airlines, Employment by Nikos Krinis 1 May 2009 by Nikos Krinis 1 May 2009 Minister of transport and communications, Evripidis Stylianidis, and minister for employment and social protection, Fani Palli-Petralia, recently announced measures to support the tourism sector. 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
Laws, Regulations & Policy HATTA Calls For United Stance Against Crisis by Nikos Krinis 1 May 2009 by Nikos Krinis 1 May 2009 The economic crisis dominated this year’s general assembly of the Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies that recently took place. 0 FacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsappEmail
