Corfu Tourist Accommodation: Regional programme of support is good but not enough

In a letter to Regional Governor Rodi Kratsa, the Federation says that the €14m is for all the sectors but for the C Category, which is tourist accommodation to let, there only remains €5.6m which has to be distributed to a huge number of businesses in the Ionian Islands Region.

In the letter to the Regional Governor and other relevant political bodies, the Federation is requesting an increase in funding from the Programme 'Support for small and very small businesses in the Ionian Islands Region which suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic' so that they can partially cover losses in the sector.

Letter:

Madame Regional Governor,

The programme of support for small and very small businesses which suffered from the COVID-19 pandemic funded by the Business Programme 'Ionian Islands 2014-2020' in the ESPA 2014-2020 Programme and co-funded by the Greek State and the EU announced by the Ionian Islands Regional Governor has generated the interest of thousands of businesses on our island and throughout the region.

One could say that it is a step in the right direction to assess the businesses that have suffered using proper criteria - whether it be decrease in turnover, profit and employment of staff.

The documentation required is also relatively simple and manageable.

The problem lies in the insufficient funding earmarked for the sector - there will be €14m in total for all the sectors but for the C Category, which is tourist accommodation to let, there only remains €5.6m which has to be distributed to a huge number of businesses in the Ionian Islands Region.

Practically, this means that only a small number of businesses will be funded, of which only a few will be from our sector.

For the reasons stated above, we would request that the amount of funding from the Programme be increased in order to partially cover the losses suffered by our businesses, which are in a hopeless situation, and to support tourism and the local economy.