Laws, Regulations & Policies

The new development law -effective as of 1 January 2011- lacks sectoral policy and will not benefit the tourism sector, the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels said last month in an announcement to the relevant ministries.

Owners of small hotel units will be excused from the insurance obligation to the Self-Employed Workers’ Insurance Organization (OAEE), Alternate Labor and Social Insurance Minister Yiorgos Koutroumanis recently assured the president of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels, Yiorgos Tsakiris. Legislation on the matter should be tabled in early 2011.

“A new day is beginning for sea cruise and the country,” Maritime Affairs, Islands and Fisheries Minister Yiannis Diamantidis said in reference to the lifting of cabotage restrictions for non-European Union-flag cruise ships.

The Hellenic Association of Travel and Tourist Agencies (HATTA) last month welcomed the news of a reduction on the Value Added Tax for accommodation facilities but at the same time expressed its dissatisfaction on the VAT increase on other tourism services.

Passengers from a country included in the U.S. visa waiver program must first request and be granted ESTA authorization (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) before traveling to the United States, according to airline carrier Air France.

On 25 August the draft bill for the lifting of cabotage restrictions, drawn up by the Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Ministry, was signed into law. Non-European Union-flag cruise ships would now be permitted to homeport in Greece, under certain conditions.

The draft law for the lifting of cabotage restri­ctions, drawn up by the Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Ministry, was tabled in Parliament on 20 July and was pending since then due to the August sum­mer break.

The draft bill on the new development law steers away from present tourism policy and from the established positions of the tourism industry, the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels said last month.

“Any decision that affects the viability and prospects of Greek tourism with low benefits is economic suicide, not fiscal policy,” the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels said last month.

The bill promoted by the government for the lifting of cabotage restrictions is a historical reform for the Greek cruise industry, Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Minister Louka Katseli said last month.