Starting January 1, 2018, Greece will introduce a mandatory tourist tax. It will be levied on all tourists staying in hotels or licensed apartments, separately from the tour price, according to ATOR.
WHAT WILL THE TOURIST TAX RATES BE?
Despite all the negative assessments and predictions of Greece's declining competitiveness as a tourist destination, an overnight stay tax in Greece will be implemented. Moreover, it will be implemented year-round, not just during the high season, as Greek hoteliers have repeatedly requested.
So, starting January 1, all foreign tourists in Greece will be required to pay a tourist tax for each night of their stay—on the day of arrival or departure. The tax amount depends on the hotel's star rating.
HOW WILL THE TAX BE PAID?
According to tour operators, organized tourists will pay the tax separately and independently. This fee is not included in the package tour price. "Tourists will pay at the hotel, as is the case, for example, in the UAE," explained ANEX Tour.
According to tour operator Mouzenidis Travel, the new tax will increase the average price of a tour by €40. The company emphasizes that "this is likely more of a temporary inconvenience, as tourists in Greece are not accustomed to paying the tax."
Biblio-Globus emphasizes that hotels reserve the right to refuse accommodation if tourists have not paid the tourist tax.
"It will take time for both hoteliers and tourists to get used to this. It's also worth noting that other European countries have long had a tax on tourists. For seasoned travelers, the Greek tax will be nothing new," experts say.
THERE WILL BE EXCEPTIONS
There may be exceptions, however: a number of high-end Greek hotels have already announced their willingness to cover the tourist tax themselves. Mouzenidis Travel explained that this primarily applies to 5-star Deluxe and Luxury hotels.
This information is also confirmed by Biblio-Globus: according to the tour operator, several deluxe hotels will not charge guests a fee; this list is currently being finalized.
Mouzenidis Travel says the list of hotels where the tax is already included in the price will be announced after the New Year holidays.
Source: trn-news.ru
