“OR Santorini It remains a safe and hospitable destination and this is the message we want to spread this year for the destination that has experienced and is experiencing a difficult condition because of the seismic activity. ” This was assured by the Minister of Tourism, Olga Kefalogiannis from the step of the 6th Regional Conference of the Panhellenic Federation of Hoteliers, held on Wednesday at the Petros M. Lawyer Conference in Santorini and added: “
She was mentioned In the importance of setting up and operating the destination management and promotion organizations, DMMOS – of this new model of governance that enhances the cooperation between state, local government and private sector, creating value added to destinations, with the aim of sustainable growth and promoting them by modern means.
During the conference, the minister had the opportunity to sign a Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment and operation of DMMO in the Municipalities of Thira, Anafi, Sikinou, Ios and Folegandros. An initiative aimed at enhancing the viability of destinations and their targeted promotion.
The speakers with the president of the Union focused on the issue of infrastructure, inter alia Santorini Hoteliers, Antonis Pagonis, stressing that “we cannot talk about world -renowned islands such as Santorini with these infrastructure, public resources for the destination should be invested. The island operates without a modern port, has no marina, it has zero health infrastructure, the services are under-staffed, and at the same time, there is talk of hyperturicity- a concept that eventually comes to cover the issues of infrastructure and the big problems in this part.
In recent years We have seen infrastructure projects left on paperfor a strategic planning of sustainable development for the place announced in 2020 in the era of the pandemic and has not yet begun. 50% of the island’s hoteliers are small and very small businesses and are unable to evolve- we are talking about small-class hotels that lack the right to support from the development. “
For his part, the president of Hellenic Tourism Business Association (SETE) Giannis Paraschis, focusing on Santorini, noted that “on the island the airfares offered is reduced by 26% from the beginning of the year until today. But the indications we have at the level of posting are reduced to 7%-8%for summer, so we expect a loss of 10%-15%. “
However, as the SETE president said, the Cycladic island has managed to record impressive performance in recent years, with an increase of 112% at international arrivals compared to 2015. In relation to 2019, the corresponding increase is 45%.
“We’re talking about impressive growth. I do not think that as a whole, we can hope that our country will continue at these pace, “said G. Paraschis.
Giving a mark For the course of Greek tourism This season, the SETE leader said: “2025 started with a mixed image. The critical indicator for the period we have spent this year is air arrivals. Air arrivals are increased by 7% compared to last year. The image is differentiated. The increase is more intense in Athens and Thessaloniki and is a little different in the rest of Greece. In general, in proportion and since we live in a period of unprecedented geopolitical and geo -economic conditions, we would say that 2025 is another good year for Greek tourism. Of course, the trends that have been shaped in recent years remain, we have a decrease in the average duration of stays and consequently a reduction in the average per capita expenditure. “
For his part, the president of the Pan -Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers Yiannis Hatzis He also raised the issue of infrastructure, while reversing the view presented in the public dialogue that Greece should cease to be based on tourism and invest in the primary sector, energy, processing and technology “as if it are two competitive poles, as if one excludes the other”, as he said. “The reality is completely different.”
Tourism produces exportable value. In 2024, revenue from incoming tourism approached 22 billion euros, covering 71.5% of the equilibrium deficit. Tourism supports domestic manufacturing. 85% of the commercial deficit is offset by tourist revenue. Tourism creates employment especially for young people as at the age of 30 the employment rate in reaching 34%, compared to just 12% in the whole economy. Tourism supports the regional economy, as 4/5 of the activity takes place outside of Attica. But most importantly, tourism resolves our main national challenge as the South Aegean and Crete regions are the only ones that have recorded a population growth between 2011 and 2021. With areas in the Dodecanese reaching up to 11% population growth. “
Mr Hatzis also stood on the issue of funding for hotels where a significant proportion consists of small and medium -sized enterprises. ‘Of the total of 10,000 hotel companies close to 2,500 They have income of up to 80,000 euros, so we are talking about small businesses, that need funding and synergies. The majority of hotels are small and very small businesses, which remain excluded from both the banking system and access to the development law. I cannot understand how these businesses can continue to face new burdens when they are already called upon to operate in the most burdensome indirect tax environment in the Mediterranean. Indirect taxes that are twice as high as countries such as Portugal, Spain, Cyprus, Italy and Turkey. I would like to remind you that especially for the effort to adapt the years 2024 and 2025 the industry will pay over € 1 billion to the Natural Disaster Fund. “
Aegean President Eftichios Vassilakis spoke about the importance of fees. “I am a great supporter of fees in the local community. I do not complain very easily, directly for some small surcharges when there is if this money They go from the success of tourism in both the local community and to tourism for infrastructure in the area.
When we have great production, high burden and high needs, if money is not reinforced locally, where you are produced then you bring the citizen to confront tourism. And because these small latent rival views must be mitigated, this is a crucial part. Reception is necessary if we want to grow touristy. ” Aegean chief noted that The big problem with the state is not, according, the tax burdens, But “the functioning of the state itself, which does not guarantee the fair competition between entities, the use of the money collected for infrastructure, nor the upgrading of public services that cannot and should not be privatized.”
TEMES President Achilleas Konstantakopoulos referred to the contribution of the tourist housing model in the extension of the season. ‘At Costa Navarino where we have acquired a critical mass of people They now have homes, all hotels have been opened this year since March. Last year we opened Christmas because there was demand. The combination of co -ownership hotels and complex tourist accommodation helps to develop a mixed product with housing hotels and certainly lengthen the season and enhance demand in Greece. “