Trade Associations

The Hellenic Chamber of Hotels last month broadcasted a video/message to Greek citizens to raise awareness of the beneficial effects of tourism on the Greek economy and society.

Greek hoteliers consider the tourism residential accommodation a necessary measure but under certain conditions, according to a survey carried out recently by the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels.

Main opposition party New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras triggered an angry reaction from the Culture and Tourism Ministry last month when he invited the Greek Government to establish a National Tourism Council among parties, social partners and collective agencies in the tourism sector.

Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister George Nikitiadis met with seven leading Russian tour operators last month and discussed further actions to boost the upward trend of Russian visits to Greece.

Culture and Tourism Minister Pavlos Geroulanos recently spoke about the obstacles posed by the European Union in regards to the abolition of visa restrictions in travel to and from Turkey, during a recent interview to Turkish National TV broadcaster TRT.

The increase of the VAT for restaurant services in Greek hotels from 13 to 23 percent (a 77 percent hike) would reduce the competitiveness of the country’s tourism product, the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels said recently in an announcement.

Domestic tourism is expected to show a reduction of some 20 percent this year as the economic crisis is keeping Greeks home, according to recent estimations of Greek tourism professionals.

Prior to the three-week taxi strike, Greece saw an increase in international arrivals by 9.95 percent compared to last year, according to data compiled by the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) from 13 of Greece’s major airports for the January-July 2011 period.

Some 20 percent of bookings to Greece were canceled for the mid August-October period during the three-week strike of Greek taxi owners and drivers, press reports said last month.
Tourism professionals stressed the taxi strike cost Greek tourism 250,000-300,000 bookings and would prevent potential tourists from visiting the country next year.

Greek tourism will soon see new arrangements that include the establishment of the long awaited tourism residential accommodation, according to the Finance Ministry’s omnibus bill tabled in Parliament last month aimed to tackle Greece’s financial crisis.