Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis introduced measures geared toward addressing the unfavorable affect of overtourism as guests proceed to reach in file numbers within the post-pandemic period.
The federal government has been “very involved” about an inflow of cruise passengers throughout sure months of the yr and can start charging charges, Mitsotakis stated Saturday throughout his annual speech on the Thessaloniki Worldwide Truthful. It’ll additionally improve a tax associated to the climate-crisis on lodging.
Greece obtained a file 36.1 million guests in 2023, whereas arrivals rose 16% to 11.6 million within the first half of 2024, in response to the newest knowledge from the Financial institution of Greece. The tourism sector contributes about 20% to the economic system, making it very important to the well being of the nation.
The nation will even increase its so-called “Golden Visa” program to buyers who’re prepared to place at the least €250,000 ($277,000) into native startups. Foreigners had been beforehand required to purchase property to amass the visa.
All passengers arriving at Greek ports can pay a price, and the cost might be better within the well-liked tourism islands of Santorini and Mykonos. A lodging tax for the April-to-October interval additionally might be elevated, with income benefiting native communities.
Mitsotakis reiterated concern that components of Greece face the issue of “overtourism.” In an interview with Bloomberg in June, he introduced plans to limit cruise ships visiting the nation’s hottest islands from 2025.
Brief-term leases have been blamed for fueling the nation’s housing disaster, which together with excessive shopper costs has been on the middle of current political debate.
The federal government will ban any new short-term leasing for at the least one yr in three foremost components of Athens, Mitsotakis stated. Property house owners who change leases from short-term to long-term gained’t should pay rental tax for 3 years, as will house owners who resolve to hire their properties as a substitute of protecting them off the market, he stated.
Vacation leases elevated an annual common of 28% from 2019 to 2023, whereas out there short-term leases doubled in the identical interval. In the meantime, resort lodging rose simply 3.5% in that interval, in response to knowledge printed in a Grant Thornton report for the nation’s Chamber of Accommodations launched this week.
The federal government will even start a brand new €2 billion program that might be used to cut back interest-rate prices for mortgage loans.
Extra Measures
Mitsotakis on Saturday additionally revealed quite a few measures geared toward easing the price of residing, together with a discount in social insurance coverage contributions by 1 share level in 2025 as a substitute of a earlier plan for a 0.5 level reduce.
The premier additionally introduced, amongst others:
A 2.2%-to-2.5% improve in round 2 million pensions from Jan. 1.
A rise in minimal wages starting in April
A rise in public sector wages, particularly to docs, firefighters and employees within the military and coverage forces.
Varied tax reliefs to assist the self-employed, farmers and others
Adjustments to unemployment advantages
“I don’t have a sack of reckless spending right now,” he stated. “Our spending for 2025 is effectively balanced.”
Greece has already pledged to satisfy a finances major surplus — an index that exhibits income minus spending excluding curiosity funds — of two.1% of GDP for each 2024 and 2025, up from 1.9% in 2023.
Fiscal self-discipline is without doubt one of the most vital standards for monetary markets, and the nation’s current prudent finances path was one of many drivers for scores corporations to return Greece to the funding grade zone in 2023 after 13 years at junk standing.
“Wholesome and rising major surpluses, in tandem with sound nominal progress, will facilitate additional vital discount within the public debt-to-GDP, which is anticipated to fall to beneath 140% by 2027, from 161.9% in 2023,” DBRS Morningstar stated Friday.
