DBT Bureau
Bengaluru, 8 September
Amid overcrowding and excessive tourism posing threat to the local climate, Greece is planning to increase taxation on tourists, which can make tour to the country expensive.
According to a Bloomberg report, the Greece government has been “very concerned” about an influx of cruise passengers and will start imposing fees.
The country will also increase a tax related to the climate-crisis on accommodation.
According to the report, Greece received a record 36.1 million visitors in 2023. During the first half (January-June), arrivals rose 16% to 11.6 million.
Tourism is one of the major contributors to Greece’s total GDP. It contributes around 20% to the economy. Given the importance of the sector, the government is focussed on sustainable tourism for avoiding any long-term impact to its economy and climate. Santorini, Mykonos, Athens, and others are popular tourism places in Greece, which are facing over tourism in post pandemic years.
In another major move, the European country will also expand its “Golden Visa” programme for investors. It is planning to mandate investment of at least €250,000 ($277,000) into local startups for acquiring visa. Foreigners were previously required to buy property to acquire the visa, the Bloomberg report said.
The report also said that all passengers arriving at Greek ports will pay a fee. Such fee will be greater in the popular tourism islands of Santorini and Mykonos.
Similarly, a lodging tax for the April-to-October period also will be increased, the report noted. Such moves are likely to make Greece an expensive destination for tourists planning to visit the country.
