From 2024, the tourist tax in Greece will be increased. For one night, a traveler will have to pay from 1.5 to 10 euros to the country’s budget, depending on the star rating of the hotel. The Prime Minister of the Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, told reporters about this.
According to him, the increase in the collection is necessary to replenish the state reserve fund, which is created specifically to combat the consequences of natural disasters. This summer, some islands of Greece were engulfed in severe fires. Particularly severe damage was caused to Rhodes and Corfu, from where tourists had to be evacuated en masse. Many hotels were destroyed or heavily damaged by fire.
Now the authorities intend not only to restore the tourism infrastructure in the affected regions but also to budget a significant amount to eliminate damage from possible future collapses.
“We have already created a special disaster reserve of 300 million euros, which will reach 600 million in 2024. Additional funds will come from an increase in the daily accommodation tax,” explained the Prime Minister.
Note that the tourist tax was introduced back in 2018. Next year it will be 1.5 euros in 1 and 2* hotels (currently 0.50), 3 euros in 3* hotels (now 1.5), 7 euros in 4* hotels (now 3), and 10 euros in five-star hotels per night (currently 4).
In addition, the authorities plan to increase the financial burden on owners of apartments and houses who rent them out to tourists through Airbnb from 2024. In particular, if the owner of more than three real estate properties is registered in the service, then income from the rental of housing will be subject to VAT and additional fees, which will also affect the cost of accommodation. Thus, officials are trying to equalize the positions of hoteliers and private owners in the tourism sector.