Conquited optimism for 2025 and reflection on issues that arise due to geopolitical developments are prevalent in Greek tourismafter historically high performance of 2024 where more than 40 million visitors were recorded, including cruise and receipts exceeding 21.6 billion euros.
For 2025 the messages continue to be positive and this is documented by the IMAS and BoG data, according to which from the beginning of the year until early June, international air arrivals increase by +7% compared to 2024. At the January -March level, 20% in January -March, 20% to EUR 1,025. Comparison with the corresponding period of 2024.
“The previous year has confirmed the resilience of Greek tourism in a time of multiple reversals and uncertainties,” said Yiannis Paraschis, president of the Hellenic Tourism Enterprises (SETE) at the meeting of the 33rd regular general meeting held. “The past year has proven in practice that Greek tourism is not just a strong sector of the economy but it is its stabilizer. Our sector expanded its imprint, confirmed its contribution and substantially supported the country’s social and macroeconomic balance, ”he added.
“Behind the positive assessment of both last year and this year’s estimates, there are complex and urgent challenges that are already throwing their shadow and will affect us even more than 2026 and then we cannot ignore,” Mr. Paraschis said, explaining that they are included, viability.
At the center of spatial spatial and infrastructure
The most important structural issue that remains pending and affects investment and competitiveness is spatial. As the president of SETE said, spatial planning is the foundation for sustainable development and legal security. The establishment of the special spatial tourism framework that remains pending is absolutely necessary for a clear and stable framework for tourism investment.
At the same time, harmonization is needed with local urban planning plans to avoid contradictions and arbitrary interpretations that create insecurity and distortions. Without law security, serious investments will not be implemented and the carrying capacity of the destinations will be in danger.
At the same wavelength, the enforcement and successive increases in the durability end, the increase in the end of the subconscious without the possibility of substantial consultation and without clear reciprocity, highlighted a deeper problem: the need for a more predictable, fair and participatory tax policy on tourism.
SETE calls for a redesign of the relevant policies to ensure that any burden measures returns to a significant degree to local communities by reinforcing local infrastructure in the areas that welcome visitors.
At the same time, the upgrading of infrastructure becomes necessary for the competitiveness and viability of the tourism product. “We need targeted interventions in ports, marinas road networks, water supply, drainage, waste management and energy.
The fees must ensure that the relevant resources return to projects and services that enhance the quality of tourist destinations, “the SETE president said and stood in three typical examples:
- The need to upgrade port and other infrastructure that was so highlighted this year at the Santorini world brand,
- The urgent need for exhibition and conference infrastructure at least in Athens and Thessaloniki to lead the country in the high performance MICE sector
- The extremely critical area of air navigation services which requires systems upgrade, additional staffing and clear assurance of productivity levels to avoid malfunctions and delays affecting two -thirds of air -on -air tourism.
Concerning the issue of short -term lease, according to INSEU data, the number of short -term leasing beds in our country probably exceeds this peak period of hotels. The development of short -term lease in several parts of the country has caused distortions both in the tourist experience and the daily lives of residents.
“The initiatives of the government, and in particular the Ministry of Tourism on this issue in recent years, are remarkable,” Mr Paraschis said, adding: “SETE has a stable position in favor of a robust regulatory framework that separates the professional from private activity, ensures its taxpayer and secures its taxpayer, social cohesion. “
Work and viability
The big chapter of Greek tourism is the human resources. SETE, as a responsible social partner, supports every effort of the state that guarantees the rights of workers and promotes healthy working relations in tourism. In this context, it also supports the work card.
“We call for the implementation of the digital work card to adapt to the specific needs of the industry, ensuring the rights of employees without undermining business functionality.
We need modernization and adaptations to labor settings such as split hours, preparation times, rest, etc., in combination with targeted reskilling and upskilling programs, as well as more efficient management of the process of postings to cover serious human resources’ deficiencies.
Great importance to SETE also have issues related to sustainability. The green transition of the industry requires immediate activation of financial tools that will support tourism businesses in adopting sustainable practices and technologies.
In this field, the Association gives great importance, seeking both the institutional integration of viability into tourism policies and the practical support of businesses through the Metron Sustainable Tourism self -regulation.
On this route, Metron gives tourism businesses the tools needed to measure, improve and enhance their progress in sustainability indicators. “We call on the whole sector, more businesses of all sizes and activity, to participate actively. Because the green and socially responsible transition of tourism is a common goal and urgent need, “the SETE president said.
Regarding the issue of funding, Mr Paraschis pointed out that the backbone of Greek tourism is the thousands of small businesses across the country. Inadequate access to funding remains one of the biggest problems that these businesses face.
According to the president of SETE, the majority of tourist applications was left without funding, in the previous notices of the development law and the NSRF programs, creating a significant stock of mature investment projects that have not proceeded.
With the recent voted new development law, it is crucial to ensure that new resources and incentives will meet the needs and particularities of the tourism sector. “Our goal is to see a real -life development law for tourist investment both for large but mainly for small and medium -sized enterprises,” he said, adding: “Tourism cannot and should not – be absent from central planning for the country’s sustainable development.
In the new development law, albeit symbolically, the explicit reference to tourism is absent in the preamble. For an area that contributes so much to the Greek economy, recognizing its role and to the level of the narrative model of the productive model remains, in our opinion, absolutely necessary. With documentation, continuity and a sense of responsibility, we claim an institutional environment that will recognize tourism not as a opportunistic pillar of development, but as the foundation of the country’s productive and social cohesion. “