With a clear and concise message to the State, the President of the Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers, Giannis Chatzis, set the tone at the opening of the 8th Regional POX Conference in Ioannina, at a time when the government has placed in public consultation key tools for the future of Greek tourism, such as the “white paper,” the special spatial planning framework and the new destination management organizations.
As he pointed out, every new strategic intervention must be genuinely co-shaped with the professionals of the sector, so that it reflects the real conditions of the market and ensures a sustainable outlook for all regions.
At this point, it should be stressed that Mr. Chatzis made it clear that the sector consistently supports the Greek economy, but demands an equal role in policy-making. Consultation, he said, cannot be a formal procedure, but a substantive stage of strategic understanding.
The opening of the conference was accompanied by the President’s thanks to the Ioannina Hoteliers’ Association and its President, Mr. Spyros Sourelis, for supporting the event and contributing to the strengthening of dialogue. At the same time, Mr. Chatzis highlighted the significantly increased participation, noting that representatives from 12 to 13 regional units are present in Ioannina.
As he underlined, this proves that despite individual particularities, there is a shared will among the regions to move collectively under the umbrella of POX, strengthening the institutional cohesion of the sector.
Three parameters the State must consider for tourism
Moving to the substance, the President of POX outlined the three critical parameters that, as he stressed, must be considered by the State as the new regulatory cycle opens.
The first concerns financing. Most small and very small enterprises do not have access to bank lending. Therefore, the requirements for investments in quality, digital transformation and green compliance remain empty without tools specifically designed for the scale and real capabilities of regional hotels.
The second concerns infrastructure and social cohesion. Mr. Chatzis emphasized that without modern transport, health and education services, worker housing and digital infrastructure, regional destinations cannot retain population nor support their tourism potential.
The third parameter is institutional equality. All forms of tourist accommodation must operate under a common framework of rules in taxation, licensing, safety and labor obligations. Any “pseudo-regulation” or zone of relaxed oversight, as he noted, harms not only hotels but also the credibility of the State itself and the protection of the consumer.
Concluding his address, Mr. Chatzis noted that the Ioannina conference is taking place at a moment when the sector is entering a phase of strategic transition. Solutions, he stressed, must begin from the base and reach the top, so that they reflect the real needs of the market and shape a framework that is resilient and applicable.
The conference is currently continuing with contributions from stakeholders of Greek tourism.
