Fourteen major investment projects in Greek tourism, focusing mainly in composite tourist accommodation have gotten the green light for their implementation, through the process of first authorization by the Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Marine and Tourism.
According to the respective file of Greece’s Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura, the major investment projects underway are the following:
Composite tourist accommodation projects that have completed the maturation process and have been issued construction permits:
** in Vroskopos area of Kea (from Dolphin Capital, including a five-star hotel, furnished tourist houses, thalassotherapy center, diving tourism center and other facilities)
** in Chrysovitsa-Platana area of Laconia Prefecture, near the village of Potamia, of the former municipality of Dimos Faridos (from the “P. Iliopoulos Tourist Enterprises SA” including a 5-star hotel with 271 beds, 36 tourist residences, spa, conference center for 500 people, open theater etc.)
Investment projects for which the procedure for issuing a Joint Ministerial Decision (KYA) has been completed:
** Agios Stefanos-Benitses on Corfu island (from the company KLC III Hellas AE, which will create at the site where the San Stefano Hotel was situated, a composite tourist accommodation facility with a total capacity of 893 beds, a 5-star hotel with 539 beds, 76 villas with 354 beds, a spa, etc.)
** Ammoudaraki area on Milos island (from the company “Axsite Rural Tourism SA” controlled by Taurus Investment Holdings involving German and American funds and other international investors, planning to build a five-star hotel (216 beds), holiday homes and spa.
** Diakofto -Koumpara Peninsula on Ios island (by the “105 Tourism & Technical Real Estate S.A. planning to create 5 star hotel and luxury holiday houses with a total capacity of 249 beds, spa, etc.)
Investment projects for which the procedure for issuing a Joint Ministerial Decision (KYA) is expected:
** In the Ipsos village area of Kato Korakiana on Corfu island a composite tourism accommodation facility. This refers probably to a Fairmont investment project which took over the management of Ipsos Village Club Med from Russian owned Corfu Gardens AKTΞE. In an area of 265 hectares, the hotel chain group, a member of FRHI Hotels and Resorts, intends to build a 180-room hotel and 40 villas.
Investment projects in the process of obtaining Environmental Impact Studies from the relevant intergovernmental environmental administration institutions:
** Asteria Glyfada (Athens) – by the Nafsika hotel company, which will renovate existing facilities to create a new 400-bed hotel establishment.
** In Lagoudi – Charasonas location on Syros Island (by the “Greek Traditional Houses SA and Merry-Land SA for a composite tourist accommodation facility, to be developed over a 417-acre area).
** On Velika beach of the Messinia Prefecture (by Grace Hotels, which will develop over a 261-acre area a composite tourist accommodation facility consisting of a 266-bed five star hotel, furnished tourist residences, a thalassotherapy center, a health spa and a conference center with capacity to host events for 300 participants)
** On Mareza island of the Corinthia Prefecture (from the company Island Mareza SA on a 780-acre area, from which 134 acres can have buildings. It involves creating a five star composite tourist accommodation facility including a hotel, bungalows, tourist furnished residences and a spa and hydrotherapy center. The facility will have a 810-bed capacity and will also feature a 54 tourist vessels’ shelter, an artificial beach, a cable car, a heliport etc. The company’s project was deemed eligible for financial subsidy by the Aid for Private Investment to promote Economic Growth, Entrepreneurship and Regional Cohesion Law (Ependytikos Nomos or Investment Law), as far as the creation of a 242-bed hotel was concerned.
** In Nies area of the Magnisia Prefecture (by the company Golfing Developments SA company, a member of the Dolphin Capital Investors group).
** In the Dounaiika site of the Heleia Prefecture (from the group of Dolphin Capital Investors involving a composite tourist accommodation facility with a total capacity of 1100 beds on a 186,350 square meters’ surface).
TOURIST VILLAGES
** The process for establishing an Area of Integrated Tourist Development (POTA) has been completed in regards to the Costa Navarino area in the Messinia Prefecture and the submission of an application for the creation of a composite tourist accommodation facility in the Pylos area is expected.
** The proposal for the establishment of an Integrated Tourist Development Area (POTA) in the Lokros area of the Fthiotida Prefecture is being examined. The proposed Area of Integrated Tourist Development shall encompass three separate composite tourist accommodation facilities under the names Notos, Zephyr and Vorras, with a combined capacity of 8872 beds. Each of the three composite accommodation facilities shall have an 18 hole golf course. The project shall include facilities for the promotion of environmental attractions the area, Spa, sports’ centers, a cultural village, an adventure village for children, as well as recreational and trade premises. Hotels and residences shall extend over a 420-acre surface while the golf courses and sports’ centers shall cover 1,700 acres.
