The Hellenic Confederation of Tourist Accommodation Entrepreneurs (SETKE) has expressed its deep dissatisfaction with the lack of consultation regarding the recent Joint Ministerial Decision (JMD) on swimming pools in small tourist accommodations.
According to SETKE, this is the first time the Ministry of Tourism has issued circulars and regulatory decisions without any prior dialogue with the Confederation — the only national-level union body representing thousands of small tourist businesses across Greece.
SETKE strongly criticized the fact that the JMD was drafted, voted on, and published without their participation at any stage of the process. The main concern centers around the timing of its implementation, which coincides with the peak tourist season, making compliance particularly difficult for many businesses.
The Confederation points out that, due to limited availability of technical professionals (such as engineers) during the summer holiday period, it is practically impossible for enterprises to meet the new requirements in time. Furthermore, it describes the 90-day compliance window as “extremely tight,” failing to account for the diversity of small tourist accommodations, the lack of sufficient information, and limited technical support.
SETKE’s Key Demands:
Immediate suspension of Article 8 of JMD 11814/2025.
Extension of the compliance deadline and adaptation of transitional provisions to reflect businesses’ actual capabilities.
Formal involvement of SETKE in all future decision-making processes affecting small tourist accommodation enterprises.
SETKE argues that excluding the Confederation from discussions undermines both transparency and the sustainability of thousands of family-run businesses nationwide. It stresses that industry participation in shaping the regulatory framework is essential to social cohesion and to preventing disruptive surprises that jeopardize business operations.
“Tourism is not a monologue — it is a collective and national affair,” SETKE states, calling for a strengthening of institutional dialogue and a return to structured consultation with all relevant industry stakeholders. The practice of issuing circulars without notification or invitation for input, the Confederation warns, constitutes a deterioration of democratic process and contradicts the principles of cooperation and transparency essential for the effective governance of the tourism sector.
