‘Athens is Back’ Initiative to Revive City’s Market

Athens, Greece. Photo Source: @Athens Attica

The Athens Municipality has teamed up with the city’s traders union to support the revival of the Greek capital’s commercial center in the aftermath of the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

Athens Mayor Kostas Bakoyannis met with representatives from the Athens Traders Association (ESA) to discuss ways to support local businesses and strengthen the city’s economy.

Under the three-month “Athens is Back” initiative, businesses and cultural bodies in Athens’ seven districts will be able to promote their discounts and products on the www.athensisback.gr platform aiming to motivate shoppers and stimulate the market.

“Athens is Back” will run through to September 16 and has opened for all interested parties wishing to participate, the municipality announced.

The idea, Bakoyannis said, is to strengthen and upgrade the local market “with actions and using technology”.

“The recent crisis has left deep scars οn the capital’s market and limited tourist flows are creating uncertainty for the next day among the city’s business community,” said ESA President Stavros Kafounis, adding that the “Athens is Back” initiative is just one among many aimed at reviving the Greek capital’s commercial center.

Earlier this week, Greek shop owners operating businesses in tourist areas urged the government to introduce financial support measures in the aftermath of Covid-19, warning that in any other case, the next tourist season will bring increased tourism, but we will find tourist shops closed and jobs lost.