The government will reconsider the overnight-stay tax for hotels and tourist accommodation, provided that the country’s budgetary figures allow it, Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura noted in an interview on Tuesday with the Athens-Macedonian News Agency’s radio station Praktoreio 104.9 FM.
“I was not content when the tax was imposed. I tried to protect the tourism sector as any minister would do. We have raised the issue with both the finance minister and the prime minister and they have pledged to reconsider it, provided that the country’s budgetary figures allow it,” she added.
Commenting on the fact that the USA will be the honoured country at the 83rd Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), she announced that pre-bookings for 2018 have already begun.
Kountoura stressed that 2017 had started on a positive note, adding that occupancy rates reached 90 percent, overnight stays had significantly increased and tourists from new, high-budget markets had visited Greece and boosted revenues.
“If we exceed 30 million tourists in 2018, it is possible that by 2020, combined with the investments being made, we will reach 35 million,” the Greek tourism minister underlined.
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RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Copyright: Mstyslav Chernov License: CC-BY-SA
Source: ANA-MPA
