Tourist Accommodation Owners Federation: Small tourist accommodation establishments excluded from state aid
Tourist Accommodation Owners Federation
18 Jan 2022
/ 20:36
CORFU. “Those who created this particular draft of the development law have excluded small tourist accommodation establishments from all kinds of aid, as if they are not the core of Greek tourism.”
The announcement of the Corfu Tourist Accommodation Owners Federation:
With mixed feelings of surprise and indignation, we were informed about the new development law that the Government will put to the vote in Parliament and from which tourist accommodation establishments and small hotels are once again excluded from all kinds of aid. A development law, tailored for large tourism businesses.
It really makes us wonder why those who created this particular draft of the development law have excluded small tourist accommodation establishments from all kinds of aid, when small hotels and accommodation establishments in the islands and mountainous areas are the core of Greek tourism. Instead of increasing the number of beneficiaries of the development law, they are, unfortunately, not only limited, but in the case of tourist accommodation establishments, they are completely excluded.
At the same time, bureaucracy is increasing and the procedures for the inclusion of businesses in the development law are becoming more complicated and complex. The media accurately pointed out that “With the new development law and in order to submit the application for inclusion, the bank will require a supporting document in order to estimate the cost and viability, instead of a simple declaration of the investor, as was the case until now”. Instead of making the procedures simpler, they are making them even more complex, at a time when our tourism industry has been hit hard by the pandemic crisis.
It should also not be noted that, in a strange way, this developmental law reduces the aid rates that had been increased by the EU.
In any case, we are asking the Minister of Tourism Mr. Kikilias to take into account our proposals, which we have repeatedly submitted to the Ministry regarding the inclusion of our businesses in the development law with the right conditions and to ensure that they are not excluded once again from this opportunity and thus assisting, during this extremely difficult period, in the effort to remain active and competitive in such a harsh environment.
With mixed feelings of surprise and indignation, we were informed about the new development law that the Government will put to the vote in Parliament and from which tourist accommodation establishments and small hotels are once again excluded from all kinds of aid. A development law, tailored for large tourism businesses.
It really makes us wonder why those who created this particular draft of the development law have excluded small tourist accommodation establishments from all kinds of aid, when small hotels and accommodation establishments in the islands and mountainous areas are the core of Greek tourism. Instead of increasing the number of beneficiaries of the development law, they are, unfortunately, not only limited, but in the case of tourist accommodation establishments, they are completely excluded.
At the same time, bureaucracy is increasing and the procedures for the inclusion of businesses in the development law are becoming more complicated and complex. The media accurately pointed out that “With the new development law and in order to submit the application for inclusion, the bank will require a supporting document in order to estimate the cost and viability, instead of a simple declaration of the investor, as was the case until now”. Instead of making the procedures simpler, they are making them even more complex, at a time when our tourism industry has been hit hard by the pandemic crisis.
It should also not be noted that, in a strange way, this developmental law reduces the aid rates that had been increased by the EU.
In any case, we are asking the Minister of Tourism Mr. Kikilias to take into account our proposals, which we have repeatedly submitted to the Ministry regarding the inclusion of our businesses in the development law with the right conditions and to ensure that they are not excluded once again from this opportunity and thus assisting, during this extremely difficult period, in the effort to remain active and competitive in such a harsh environment.
