Draft Greek Tourism Legislation Put to Public Consultation

Photo source: Hellenic Parliament

New legislation drafted by the Greek Tourism Ministry, which includes a series of provisions for tourism services and initiatives for the sector’s development, was recently put up for public consultation.

The draft tourism bill is entitled “Destination Management and Promotion Organizations, Thermal Springs of Greece, Zakynthos Shipwreck, provisions for travel agencies, tourism enterprises and tourist accommodation and other regulations for tourism development” and public consultation will end on Saturday, June 26 at 2pm.

According to Greek Deputy Tourism Minister Sofia Zacharaki, the goal of the legislation is to substantially enhance the Greek tourism product.

Speaking to the Athens News Agency, Zacharaki said that among other things, the bill attempts to make a comprehensive approach to the tourism product through destination management organizations and introduces key initiatives for the effective development of wellness tourism.

The new legislation drafted by the Greek Tourism Ministry refers to the establishment of a management body for the Zakynthos Shipwreck.

The draft bill for Greek tourism consists of three parts.

The first part includes actions to help local destination management and promotion organizations more effectively address complex development challenges that several Greek tourist destinations face; and regulates issues related to urgent actions for the promotion of Greek regions impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The second part refers to the establishment of a public limited company under the name “Thermal Springs of Greece”, which would aim for a more comprehensive and efficient administration, management, exploitation and utilization of the country’s thermal natural resources and springs, together with their facilities, which are the property of the state and/or local government.

The third part of the draft law refers to the establishment of a management body for the Zakynthos Shipwreck, the second most visited site in Greece and significant tourist attraction for the country, which “is in need of immediate specialized care, so tourists can visit safely”.

Moreover, the bill refers to the establishment of a Cruise Tourism Development Council; includes various provisions for travel agencies, tourism enterprises and tourist accommodation facilities; and a provision for the planning and organization of vocational education or training programs.

The Tourism Ministry invites all relevant parties to participate in this public consultation and submit their opinion and comments on the proposed regulations for Greek tourism.

The ministry, taking into consideration the results of the public consultation, will submit the bill to a Parliament vote.

The draft tourism bill can be found here (in Greek).