Twice as many Greeks are eligible this year for subsidized holidays under Greece's “Tourism for All” scheme, with 200,000 more people to get the benefit.
Sixteen major European airlines have confirmed that they reimbursed over 500,000 vouchers that they had imposed on consumers for cancelled flights during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Greece has revised regulations on refund claims for bookings of airlines, ferries, yachts, hotels and travel packages that were canceled due to Covid-19.
Making vouchers for canceled travel more attractive, as an alternative to reimbursement in money, would increase their acceptance by consumers, according to the European Commission.
Twelve EU member states, including Greece, have requested for the European Commission to approve the temporary issuance of vouchers for canceled trips due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Greek consumer groups say that a voucher plan, drawn up to reimburse customers for canceled trips to Greece due to Covid-19, defies national and EU regulation.
The European Commission is not against vouchers as an alternative to cash refunds for canceled travel bookings due to Covid-19, but only if they are voluntary and secured against insolvency of travel operators.
Greek airlines, ferries and tourism enterprises are allowed to reimburse customers with 18-month vouchers for canceled bookings due to Covid-19, instead of cash refunds.
Consumer groups in Greece are calling for the implementation of EU regulations that foresee full refunds for travel plans that have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
