Tourism: A new chapter opens

Provisions for the “qualitative development of Greek tourism, support the tourism product (tourism), the provision of additional tools and opportunities for entrepreneurship”, includes the draft law “Strengthening tourism infrastructure and tourism education, updating the framework for exercising the profession tour guides and timeshare rentals, regulations of tourist operators and other provisions for the stimulate tourism” according to what the Minister of Tourism reported Olga Kefalogianni, within the Parliament’s Production and Trade Committee, where discussions began.

“Thanks to the proposed arrangements, we can move even closer to our goal, which is the consolidation of Greece as a global tourism power characterized by its complex tourism offer and the sustainable development of destinations and tourism product,.

Greek tourism and discrimination

The Minister of Tourism, presenting the bill to the parliamentary committee, said that the new regulations are being introduced in a period of positive messages and distinctions brought by Greek tourism. He specifically mentioned that in 2023, Greece entered the top ten most popular destinations in the world. And 2024, at the beginning, both in terms of travel revenues and tourist traffic, shows a special dynamic.

“However, we are at a point where it is essential to ensure that the conditions are right for tourism to deliver long-term benefits to the national economy and local communities. To this end, we are opening a new chapter for the Greek tourism, focused on the qualitative development of tourism In this new effort, we build on the current dynamics and exploit all the comparative advantages of our country. We are planning and implementing policies and actions for tourism today. Greek of the coming decades,” said Mr. Kefalogianni, emphasizing that the guiding principle will be measure and balance, concern for the protection of the natural and cultural environment, respect for the environment. human beings and local communities. The clear objective of the promoted provisions, said the Minister of Tourism, is the sustainability, resilience and competitiveness of destinations and tourism products.

Regarding the proposed arrangements, the Tourism Minister said it was proposed to address planning and licensing issues related to accommodation and special tourism infrastructure (tourism) facilities. Procedures related to licensing other types of tourism businesses are simplified and improved. Obstacles to entrepreneurship are removed, a more favorable investment framework is sought, based on internationally accepted practices and from an environmental protection perspective. Furthermore, provisions have been introduced to strengthen accessibility to tourist infrastructure. Regulations are introduced for tourist camps organized for luxury living and this activity is upgraded from a quality label to a distinct type of tourism business.

The bill sets a deadline for the compliance of tourist accommodation, both main and non-main, and the installation of special tourist infrastructure based on current environmental legislation. The aim is to ensure the existence of environmental permits and the environmentally friendly operation of these companies, as stated by the Minister of Tourism. At the same time, the existing framework for condominium hotels is supplemented, so that it is possible for the rooms and apartments of these hotels, for sale or long-term rental, to be developed as independent, vertical and divided properties. . Through a regulation included in the bill, incentives are introduced for the creation of small mixed tourist accommodation.

For maritime tourism, it is possible to increase the number of berths with floating platforms, for an additional financial consideration. In order to meet the additional needs related to the operation and safety of ports, the construction of toilets for disabled people and the installation of fire-fighting equipment in port facilities are planned.

For mountain tourism, it is proposed to extend until 31.12.2025 the deadline for bringing mountain refuges into operational and technical compliance with the legislation in force. The basic condition is the agreement of the competent forest service.

With other provisions:

  • the strategic environmental impact study for the delimitation of integrated tourism development zones and the creation of complex tourist accommodation is approved with the delivery of the PD. “In other words, instead of the approval of their demarcation being done in two stages, as was the case until now, with the new regulations it is stipulated that the corresponding presidential decree will simultaneously provide for the environmental conditions “In this way, the rigor of the process remains intact since the approval of all the terms of the plan is surrounded by the increased procedural and institutional authority of the PD”, said Olga Kefalogianni, emphasizing that from now on “the process is. simplified and accelerated for the benefit of the administration as well as businesses”, because the issuance of a separate decision for the approval of environmental conditions is omitted and everything is consolidated in a single administrative act.
  • In order to promote other forms of tourism, the certification control of medical tourism providers is being overhauled. The creation of a register of medical tourism providers is envisaged.
  • The framework for the recognition and protection of curative natural resources is improved and to speed up the process of their recognition, the obligation to inform the competent department of the Ministry of Tourism by the management bodies is institutionalized.
  • SPA rejuvenation centers are included in the scope of Law 4442/2016.
  • the possibility of operating tourist accommodation and catering structures within wine-growing units is extended, to promote wine tourism.

Ms. Kefalogianni also spoke about the provisions aimed at improving tourism education and training and stressed that issues related to students of higher tourism education are regulated and that, to restore the treatment of these students, medical and hospital care are provided. , provision of student identification and provision of documents. It is also possible to classify graduates from these schools into tourism studies HEIs. At the same time, the mode of administration of higher professional training schools in tourism is modernizing.

As for the profession of tourist guide, harmonization is promoted “with the modern demands of the tourist market and the new trends in tourist demand,” said the Minister of Tourism.

At the same time, for the rental of timeshare accommodation, the framework is updated on the basis of European practices and the relevant legislation is amended to facilitate contracts with timeshare tenants. The tenant has the possibility, during the period when he is not using his timeshare, to include the tourist accommodation he has rented, in a hotel rental program, for shared use.

Since destination management and promotion bodies constitute a strategic development tool for tourism, provisions are introduced for their active participation in the promotion of destinations as well as their rational management and further development. Modifications are made to existing provisions so that agencies and representatives of the tourist market participate in decision-making. The operation of a special tourism committee is planned in these organizations, with a view to strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors. The annual destination promotion plans developed will be in full harmony with the general planning and objectives of the tourism promotion program developed by the Ministry of Tourism.

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