Travel

The financing for the renewal of the term of office of 800 fixed-term border guards in the eastern Aegean has been decided by the managing authority of the Migration Ministry.

The move aims to strengthen the operational capacity of the Hellenic Police for the protection and surveillance of the country's external borders.

A significant increase in the supply of short-term rental accommodation was recorded ahead of the peak summer tourist season, which already bodes well for 2023.

According to data presented by AirDNA, based on bookings made through the Airbnb and VRBO platforms up to early June, demand growth for the May-October period is forecast to exceed 42%.

Pressure is mounting on short-term rental hosts, as the tax administration and the big three platforms (Airbnb Ireland UC, Booking.com BV, and VRBO Expedia Group Vacation Rentals Ireland Limited) near the conclusion of a new protocol cooperation that will lead to identifying those who avoid declaring the incomes they receive.

The Independent Public Revenue Authority (AADE) has identified more than 73,000 property managers and owners who are active in short-term rentals who had "forgotten" to declare income of 102 million euros in 2022.

The Migration and Asylum Ministry and the EU are co-financing the recruitment of 150 new border guards with funds from the Integrated Border Management Fund - Border Management and Visa Instrument (2021-27).

The new guards will bolster the operational capabilities of the police directorates of Rodopi and Kavala in northern Greece.

Hoteliers in Antalya, which has received serious immigration from two countries since the start of the war in Ukraine, have proposed that the invoices and accommodation documents to be given to the tourists staying in small and medium-sized hotels be accepted as lease contracts.

The move could help stop the exorbitant increases in house prices and rents, according to the hoteliers.

In partnership with the hotel chain Accor, Mogotel Hotel Group has launched its first two Ibis Styles hotels in Slovenia by rebranding Hotel Central and The Fuzzy Log in Ljubljana's city centre.

The largest hotel operator in the Baltic countries, Mogotel Hotel Group leased the two Ljubljana hotels in summer last year for 20 years for a combined €12 million.

Greek hoteliers have signed contracts with major foreign tour operators with price hikes between 10% and 15% for the 2023 season.

BELGRADE- The Serbian passport ranks 38th in the global Henley Passport Index for 2023, which means that Serbians can travel to 136 countries of the world without visas.

With 91 countries still requiring visas for Serbian citizens, the Serbian passport has retained its 2022 ranking.

Grivalia Hospitality has announced an investment of 280 million euros for the construction of a luxury hotel complex on the island complex of Petalioi, off Evia.

The development will take place on Megalonisos, the largest island in the complex, and concerns a super-luxury resort of very high standards.