Greece to Tighten Rules for Short-term Rentals, Says Tourism Minister
Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni announced that the government would be tightening short-term rentals regulations and introducing mandatory standards of operation.
“The Tourism Ministry will immediately proceed with the regulation of operational specifications for short-term rental accommodation. Short-term rental activity has also created a social problem. There must be a tightening of the short-term rental framework. It’s not a sharing economy anymore,” said Kefalogianni participating in the “Greek Tourism – A National Affair – Destination Crete” conference on Saturday.
Greece’s tourism industry must enter a new era, said Kefalogianni, adding that although there were several destinations that were reaching saturation point, overtourism was still not a problem.
The goal, she said, was to identify what makes a destination authentic and competitive and at the same time move forward with the qualitative development of tourism focusing less on the quantitative and more on increasing average length of stay and spending per person.
In this direction, Kefalogianni said the availability of RRF resources was a “significant opportunity” for the sector with the upgrade of ports and marinas and making beaches accessible among the most important projects.
The minister also referred to the importance of wise destination management and the need to offer reskilling and upskilling opportunities to employees in tourism.
Lastly, she stressed the importance of bringing tourism higher up on the EU agenda and added that ahead of the European Parliament elections in June, Greece was calling for the creation of an EU committee that would be overseeing tourism matters.
Hello, I’ve been going to Greece for over 25 years, mainly to the Islands and Crete. Its true its become expensive, the restaurants have reduced the size of the portions and rarely offer you a little something at the end of the meal as they used to,the rooms have increased their prices by 50% and their services have dropped (they no longer come and pick you up at the port etc). The ferries have become overpriced as there are mainly only fast ones (which I don’t like much). I can fly to London or Athens cheaper then a fast ferry Mykonos to Milos. I’m also thinking of going to Spain instead of Greece next year.
Package tourism. Zero quality, zero authenticity….
“The goal, she said, was to identify what makes a destination authentic and competitive and at the same time move forward with the qualitative development of tourism focusing less on the quantitative and more on increasing average length of stay and spending per person.”
First clean Greece from its rubish everywhere
I am so ashamed when I get comments from visiting tourists !
MAKE GREECE CRYSTAL CLEAR AS ITS WATERS !
An expat living in Greece
I have a house on Crete the cost of living has rocketed even before covid but the price of goods has remained high even though we are out of it. The amount of people iv spoken to saying they won’t return to Greece is far more than people iv met who day they are going. The current blue conservative government is going to cripple the country especially with the duty on fuel making goods and services costs very high yet Greece supplies fuel to Cyprus and it is 40 cents a litre cheaper there you couldn’t make it up.
You might not have a problem with over tourism if you keep taxing us, 100% rise in room tax and the excuse climate change. We supported Greece by going on holiday to Crete as normal in 2020 2021 2022, at great expense purchasing test kits, since then it’s getting so expensive to holiday in Crete, after 22 years we may have to look elsewhere.
they have been trying to push that for more rhan 20 years. you cant charge fortunes when the infrastructure of the country is so poor. basics – water, power, cleanliness are the priorities. then help small businesses/owners to upgrade (reduce. AT/tax/enfia.