Greece Introduces Cruise Passenger Levy, Tightens Rules on Short-Term Rentals

Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni introduced the new cruise passenger levy as well as the framework for regulating short-term rentals, such as Airbnb, on Monday.

Specifically, the minister announced a cruise passenger levy of 20 euros per person disembarking at the ports of Mykonos and Santorini, and 5 euros at other Greek ports, applicable from June 1 to Sept. 30.

The fee will be reduced by 40% in April, May, and Oct, dropping to 12 and 3 euros respectively, and by 80% from Nov. to March, lowering the charges to 4 and 1 euros.

The new cruise passenger levy is expected to generate annual revenue of 50 million euros. One-third of the amount will be distributed to the municipalities where passengers disembark, one-third will be allocated to the ministry of shipping for essential port infrastructure projects, and the remaining third will go to the ministry of tourism, to improve tourism infrastructure and support the country’s tourism industry.

A similar approach will be applied to the “resilience levy” that is imposed on hotels.

Regarding the climate resilience levy, it will see an increase from April to Oct. for hotels, rental rooms, and short-term rental properties.

The reduced fee will now extend by one month, including March, making it applicable for five months instead of four.

The revenue from this levy will be used for disaster prevention and recovery expenses, as well as improvements to infrastructure to support the country’s tourism sector.

For short-term rentals, the resilience fee will rise from 0.50 euros during the winter months to 2 euros, and from 1.50 euros in the summer months (April to Oct.) to 8 euros.

What is more, in terms of market regulation, new short-term rentals will be prohibited in the center of Athens, specifically in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd municipal districts effective from January 1, 2025, for one year, with the possibility of extension.

The minister further emphasized that the Ministry of Tourism is developing a regulatory framework for short-term rentals, with aim of introducing minimum operational and safety standards, along with a system for conducting inspections to ensure compliance.

Source: tovima.com