Greek Tourism Minister plans to create new legal framework for industry

Greek Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura noted that "the tourism sector, together with energy, new technologies, primary production and transport, is playing a leading role in the national drive for growth, encouraging entrepreneurship, promoting projects and large investments in the country in the coming years", addressing the 4th Annual Economic Forum of the Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association entitled “Investing in the Future: The Private Sector’s Bid for Economic Recovery”She also revealed the creation of a new legislative framework for the Greek tourism industry set to be codified in June and completed by autumn with the aim to reduce overregulation in the sector.Kountoura highlighted the Greek government’s efforts and strategy to open up to new markets, simplify business procedures and introduce direct flights to and from Greece to major global destinations and added"“We have opened up to new markets such as the Middle East, China and South Korea, and have strengthened markets such as Russia, the US and Canada, in efforts to attract high-income and higher-spending travelers all year round… and we are now expanding into the tourist markets of India and Brazil, where we participated for the first time in the biggest international tourism fairs this year.” According to her, Greece has won over the trust of holidaymakers as well as of investors as demonstrated by some 142 hotel projects filed in 2016 now in the process of gaining licensing, while 251 hotel investment proposals have already been submitted since March 2017.The Hellenic Entrepreneurs Association (ΕΕΝΕ), which is completing 30 years of active presence and action in Greece, organized the 4th Annual Economic Forum, on Monday 22 May at the King George hotel in Syntagma. The event was realized in collaboration with the London School of Economics and the Hellenic Observatory of the European Institute.RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report