Halkidiki Businesses Call on Gov’t for Support After Covid-19 Curfew Decision

Authorities and tourism stakeholders in Halkidiki, Northern Greece, are calling on the government to support businesses relying on tourist revenue with incentives and subsidies after a decision on Wednesday, to impose harsher measures in the region and curfews.

Health authorities imposed on Wednesday extra precautionary measures in Halkidiki and on Mykonos aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19 after a surge in coronavirus infections this month.

Halkidiki Regional Governor Ioannis Giorgos said the high coronavirus rates in the overall region of Northern Greece are a result of unprecedented circumstances in neighboring countries.

He went on to accept the decision noting that public safety comes first, but added that the harsher measures will strain the operation of local businesses active in tourism and impact the lives of thousands of professionals and employees, leading to closures and dismissals.

Giorgos is urging the government to take immediate economic measures to support ailing businesses so that professionals and employees can “cope with the new living conditions as these have come to be, particularly in view of the difficult winter ahead”, he said.

Echoing Giorgou’s comments, Halkidiki Hotel Association (HHA) President Grigoris Tasios said funding measures were of utmost importance, adding that the government should set up a permanent recovery fund to cover the needs of businesses and employees in areas that are forced to implement stricter Covid-19 restrictions at least until the health crisis subsides.

“It’s a bet on the survival of our region as its economy depends mainly on tourism,” said Tasios.