Transport Discounts Now Applicable on All Greek Islands

All Greek island residents can – starting this year – claim transportation discounts as part of the government’s “transport equivalent” measure, the shipping ministry announced.

Initially applicable to 49 Greek islands within a pilot scheme launched last summer, the measure now foresees discounts for the transportation of goods and people to and from all Greek island territories.

The measure has thus far subsidized 61,500 islanders for a total of 60,000 trips and 3,100 island-based businesses for the transport of products and raw materials to and from the islands, expanding to now include all of the country’s islands.

The shipping ministry said it was using the experience gained through the pilot program to now extend the scheme to all island communities in Greece, inviting residents, positioned medical staff, and stationed teachers to register online at www.metaforikoisodynamo.gr in order to be assigned a special islander code which they will present to ferry agencies when purchasing their tickets and will at the end of each month receive in their bank account the amount of the tax-deductible discount. 

Applicants need only to register once and should submit TAXIS codes, personal data and IBAN number in order for the discounts to be deposited.

The same applies as of January 7, to businesses for costs involving the transport of goods to and from the islands.

In order to be eligible for the discounts, companies must retain a record of the relevant documents – bill of lading, invoices and professional vehicle fares (in the case of own transportation). The amount to subsidized will be calculated for the transport of products starting on January 1, 2019.