Laws, Regulations & Policies

The council of shipping transport recently rejected the proposal of Hellenic Seaways to launch extra routes during the summer months.

The planned zoning law for tourism was one of the key topics for discussion at Prodexpo 2008, the ninth conference-exhibition on the utilization of real estate in Greece and Southeast Europe.

After the recent homicide of an Australian tourist who was beaten to death, allegedly by a Greek bouncer on Mykonos, Tourism Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos convened an emergency meeting with officials from other ministries in the framework of setting up a Crisis Management Committee to troubleshoot incidents that occur in tourist areas of Greece.

Public Works and Environment Minister Yiorgos Souflias recently announced the development of a zoning law for tourism by the end of the year.

The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and the Research Institute for Tourism recently expressed to the secretary of economy and finance, Yiannis Papathanasiou, the tourism sector’s need for an immediate reform of the development law.

The tourism ministry has inaugurated a public discussion for the formation of the functional specifications and quality criteria arrangement plan for Greek tourist resorts, which will lead to a new categorization system for “stars” for hotels and “keys” for rooms to let.

Transport and Communications Minister Costis Hatzidakis recently rearranged the administration of Olympic Airlines, Olympic Airways-Services and Pantheon Airways.

Tourism Development Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos recently announced his plans to lift the visa requirements for visitors to Greece from the United Arab Emirates after meeting with U.A.E Finance Minister Sultan Saeed Al Mansouri during his visit to Dubai for the Arabian Travel Market (6-9 May). Mr. Spiliotopoulos expressed his hope that with this move Greece would attract Arab capital, specifically with regard to tourism investment such as ports and marinas.

Border checks were lifted at the airports of the nine countries that joined Europe’s border-free Schengen area last year. Controls on land and sea frontiers were lifted last year and those at airports have now been lifted as security upgrades have been completed.

On 21 December 2007, nine countries were inducted into the Schengen area thus facilitating travel within Europe and eradicating land and sea border control restrictions.