Greek Ministry of Tourism announces reforms: According to official figures, in 2022, tourist turnover in Greece from Australia reached 142 million euro (AU $240 million) while arrivals reached 94,000
Greece’s Ministry of Tourism is creating a platform ‘My Digital Tourism’ to gather information on the country’s tourism sector in a single hub, in order to achieve a comprehensive picture of Greece’s tourism product.
Confirmed by Deputy Tourism Minister, Sophia Zacharaki, the platform will contain data and information for citizens, entrepreneurs, professionals and visitors, “and in this way will serve the better cooperation of tourism services at central and regional level”.
Ms Zacharaki also announced another regulation that will assist the creation and operation of the new office of the Greek National Tourism Organisation in Australia, “aiming at the promotion and tourism promotion of the country in a market with a particularly upward dynamic as Australia”.
The EOT Office will operate in the building of the Greek Community of Melbourne.
According to official data, in 2022, tourism turnover in Greece from Australia reached 142 million euro (about AU$240 million) and 94,000 arrivals.
In another provision, awards for visitor attractions, tourist destinations and businesses will be established for the first time.
Provisions for further investments related to the concession of tourist ports and Greek marine tourism will be made by simplifying and accelerating the process of siting tourist ports.
The ministry is also aiming to simplify the operation of the special service for the promotion and licensing of tourism investments establishing an independent planning office, which handles building permits for large or complex tourism investments, with the aim of speeding up the process of licensing such investments.
The regulation on timeshare contracts for tourist accommodation is also set to aid the simplification and streamlining of procedures, with the possibility that, in the case of over-leasing, the procedure for issuing a special operating licence, which has already taken place, does not need to be repeated.
More over, Greece’s Tourism Ministry says it is ready to deal with the issue of parking spaces in front of or near hotels.
An extension is being given for the classification of the main hotel accommodations as well as the deadline for municipalities to 30/6/2023 for the municipal councils to make a decision on the exploitation of the space.
The implementation of the massive training program for unemployed and temporary workers under the Ministry of Tourism has received 46 million euro from the Recovery Fund.
The reforms will also see that a Sustainable Tourism Development Observatory is established.
Finally, official identity cards are to be provided for employees and officials of the Regional Tourism Services in order to to ensure the legality, safety and quality of the hospitality services provided in regional areas while eliminating the phenomenon of said employees being questioned and/or denied access.
Source: Neos Kosmos