Greek Tourism Confederation

The Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE) is calling for the formation of a special, investment-friendly zoning plan for tourism.

Museums and archaeological sites in Attica may not open to the public this weekend as the Panhellenic Federation of Culture Ministry Employees has called a strike for July 29-30, generating a strong reaction by the tourism industry.

International arrivals at the country's main airports increased 10.5 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2017, exceeding 6.5 million according to figures processed by the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).

The Athens airport had 1.94 million arrivals from abroad, followed by Iraklio (pictured) with 1.05 million and Thessaloniki with 840,000.

The Federation of Hellenic Associations of Tourist and Travel Agencies (fedHATTA) has taken a number of initiatives for promoting Greece abroad, including its bid to organize the "Japan Week" international event of 2019 in Athens.

Greece's hoteliers asked the prime minister on Thursday whether the new tax on overnight stays at accommodation units, due to be imposed from January 2018, could apply only during July and August, if indeed it has to be imposed at all.

The overtaxation of tourism and the absence of clear zoning in the sector are deterring investors from entering the field in Greece, in spite of the interest recorded in new business plans by domestic and foreign groups, according to the president of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Yiannis Retsos.

Greece's biggest challenge in tourism this year will be how to best manage an expected record number of arrivals, as the country already receives a tourism inflow that is almost three times its population every year, according to the new head of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE), Yiannis Retsos.

Tourism makes a big contribution toward employment in Greece and this has kept rising over the last 30 years, according to a study by the Institute of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE). It also extends across the country's regions, including lesser visited areas.

All the signs indicate that Greek tourism is expecting a very successful summer season. Greek hotel owners and industry professionals are confident the current season will be extended based on messages by foreign tour operators and are already setting their eyes on the next season.

Dozens of tourism investments are under threat due to the lack of zoning plans, while overtaxation is putting the future course of the sector at risk according to data and estimates presented during Thursday's annual general meeting of the Greek Tourism Confederation (SETE).