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One of the biggest challenges facing Greece, at the height of the lifting of measures, is the performance of tourism, in a summer of special conditions.
It is an industry that thousands of jobs and companies depend on, and it has been the country’s main economic “oxygen” for decades. Already, many international media reports present Greece as the ideal destination … without a crown. In reality, however, this year’s final Tourism “map” will be governed by the curves of the crown pandemic, travel restrictions and – very reasonable – fear of people.
According to the latest estimates, several countries will not be able to “send” tourists to Greece. Among them are very important markets, such as England and Russia, where the pandemic curve has not “found” the Catholic path. For the countries in which Greece is “betting” this year, the measures to be taken for tourism and the mistakes to be avoided, open your documents at iefimerida.gr ο Giannis Retsos, President of the Association of Tourism Companies of Greece (SETE).
Retsos: “Keys” are good health and flight management
The “million” question for tourism factors is whether it is realistic to expect this summer. “If we try to judge things from our point of view, it is not so realistic to wait. Until now nobody has been able to send the perfect solution, which is not strange. The whole planet is still in the management phase of the health problem,” initially emphasizes the president of SETE.
However, as Giannis Retsos says, the tourism “game” is not yet over. It is a personal assessment, or as some say “illusions”, that as the weeks go by and the crown theme evolves well, especially for Greece, where we have made significant progress, the outlook will change. The image we will have at the end of June will be very different from today, if health bans continue to be mitigated.He notices.
“We must not talk about safe and unsafe destinations”
The SETE president recommends patience. “We have to be patient and the medical care system must continue, obviously. The first problem, from the tourist point of view, is to restart flights, to see what possible intergovernmental agreements we have next. With the current situation, there can be no tourism. Nor can we speak of green areas, safe and unsafe destinations. If you say and give guarantees that it is a “safe destination”, it means that you also assume the obligation to finally become “unsafe” when you have large currents from abroad.. These are conversations that should not take place, “explains Giannis Retsos.
According to the SETE president, the crucial meeting of the Breton Commission will take place next Wednesday, May 13. “It is the Tourism Committee of the European Commission that will present plans and proposals for transport and hospitality. This is crucial. It will establish the framework that will determine the terms of the resumption of flights. This will be the basis for the start of the discussions. between states on how their citizens will move from one country to another, “says Mr. Retsos.
Are there more affected areas in Greece?
As in the restaurant industry, where some companies have the option of tables outside the store, the question arises whether the tourism industry has two speeds, or even more, with the result that some are more affected. The president of SETE estimates that the problem “is horizontal. And it will go horizontally at the end. Obviously there are the most tourist and / or least tourist areas. But let’s look at the example of road tourism. Road tourism, which is aimed at the land and north of Greece will start sometime because the borders will open under certain conditions. “
When asked about inequalities in the industry, Giannis Retsos replies:
“It just caught our eye then. There are differences in the sizes of the companies, there is a different mode of operation, 12 months and seasonal, it is as follows that there will be different speeds. Expected in a war situation like the one we have in 2020. “
Retsos: “No” to excessive rules that will put the weakest out of service
Mr. Retsos explains to iefimerida.gr that the size of tourism companies will play an important role and that is why measures must be taken that do not allow smaller companies to close, and “cake”:
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“Tourism companies in Greece have different budgets, which offer other possibilities for the health measures they will take. This can also be a marketing tool to attract clients from some companies. However, these measures should not be a condition of operation or non-operation. There cannot be excessive rules that ultimately prevent some from working. That will leave you out. We must meet the necessary limits on health care, as entered by health and state workers, and then everyone will have the right, based on their abilities, to build more. I repeat, however, that the terms must be realistic and sustainable. “
SETE position in the tests: to be carried out in the countries of origin
A few days ago, the Minister of Tourism, Haris Theocharis, stressed that the measure is being considered to test crowning in tourists, before boarding the planes. The Ministry of Transport left something similar for open ships.
Giannis Retsos of SETE points out that “our general position, which, as we have understood, is also the government’s position, is that control and examination must take place in the country of origin. That is where the intergovernmental agreements must end.” Mr. Retsos argues that “the country cannot assume the obligation to examine the world to come. Ships, like hotels, cannot become clinical or diagnostic centers. Especially for ships, it is practically difficult.”
In which countries does Greece “bet” on tourism?
There are many who, in this difficult situation, “photograph” China as one of Greece’s hopes for tourism. The president of SETE has a different opinion. “China is not a big market. It is a market that Greece was exploring due to its size. In the first stage, we are talking about an intra-European movement, since the ban on air travel by third countries is valid at least until June 15. Then we try to target some countries outside the European framework that have done a good job, “he explains.
What countries are these? According to Giannis Retsos, the conference call by Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the leaders of 7 states that performs well against the coronavirus pandemic gave a first image. “It just came to our attention then Israelwith the Cypruswith Balkan countries. Of the large markets, the most realistic for this year is Germany, but will be delayed. We are talking about the end of August, maybe the beginning of September. The England, unfortunately, it seems to be a lost cause, “says the president of SETE.
It is recalled that the Prime Minister’s teleconference with his leaders took place Austria, Denmark, Norway, Czech Republic, Israel, Singapore and Australia.
The 4 SETE proposals for tourism
The big “bet” now is to secure jobs and support companies. “I estimate that in ten days we will have the full package of government measures for hotels, air transport and the restart of tourism. The labor subsidy program will play a very important role, as it will determine the cost of operations,” says Giannis Retsos.
SETE has presented 4 proposals: axes for tourism. “We have decided to act realistically and reliably, as a social partner, and we hope that with the appropriate measures we will come out with the smallest possible losses from this unprecedented crisis,” concluded the president of SETE.
The 4 axes: SETE suggestions for tourism:
- Health operating protocols: Tourism / transport cannot operate without common European protocols for controlled health travel. As we see over time that common European action is delayed and intergovernmental agreements seem more likely, in May we must have reached national health protocols for all tourism companies. These protocols must be realistic and sustainable, always within the framework of health commitments and can be implemented by small companies, which make up the majority of our sector. We have already informed its associates, the Ministry of Tourism and EODY, that before 11.05.20 we will deliver a complete plan to be processed with their consultants, so that we can be ready on time.
- 2. Employee and labor subsidy programs, at least for all of 2020: As part of the “load sharing” logic, as explained in a recent interview with “K”, in order to keep jobs in a near-zero income environment for an indefinite period of time, an employment subsidy program must emerge immediately. , which will share labor costs between the company, the state and the employee, fairly and in accordance with the strengths, needs and capacities of the parties. Similar programs are already being implemented in many European countries. In addition, we must bear in mind that, since many of the seasonal companies will not be able to operate this year, a large part of the approximately 700,000 tourist workers (data from the third quarter of 2019) will remain unemployed. Therefore, we need a safety net and an expansion of the unemployment fund, but also an incentive for companies to operate, even for a small part of the season, to stop the wave of unemployment.
- 3. VAT reduction as of 06.01.20 and for as long as necessary to recover the lost land: accommodation at 6%, all types of catering at 13%, tourist service at 13%, national transport at 13% and maritime tourism at 13%. Although we understand the difficulty of the fiscal year, we believe that especially by 2021 and given that the pandemic has been treated internationally, competitive VAT rates will allow us to claim market share from competitors who have lagged far behind in managing the pandemic. but they will return strong and with much lower rates than us, with all that this entails for price competitiveness.
- 4. No advance payment of income tax for 2020. The measure has no fiscal impact and, in addition, in 2021 with all the companies that generate losses, compensation for anticipated losses will be mandatory. Therefore, immediate implementation will boost business liquidity now that they are urgently needed.
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