Ο Member of Parliament for Piraeus and Islands, Nikolaos Manolakos, submitted a question to the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs within the framework of Parliamentary Control, regarding the extension and expansion of the OAED's Social Tourism Programs.
The retired lieutenant general pointed out that, due to the special circumstances of the current Social Tourism Program, pandemic, Only 25% of those eligible have benefited, while destinations within the region of residence are excluded.
Mr. Manolakos emphasized that it is imperative, in order to stimulate tourism, to extend the current Social Tourism Program of the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) until the end of 2021 and also requested that beneficiaries be given the option of choosing destinations within the regional unit of their place of residence.
The latter will allow residents of the densely populated Attica Region to choose nearby destinations on the islands of the Saronic Gulf and the Municipality of Troizinia-Methana.
In conclusion, the Member of Parliament for Piraeus and the Islands asked the Minister responsible whether he intended to take initiatives to extend the current social tourism program of the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) until the end of 2021 and, in addition, to enable social tourism within the region of residence.
The text of the question is as follows:
Mr. Secretary,
Undoubtedly, the social tourism programs implemented by various public bodies are the most solid foundation on which Greek tourism can rely in order to return to normalcy in the post-pandemic era.
In this context, the program implemented last year by the Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) with a budget of €30 million and 300,000 beneficiaries among our fellow citizens was a step in the right direction and aimed to stimulate the affected tourism industry.
The program was valid for 12 months, ending on December 31, 2016.η July of this year. From then on, the organization's new program will be implemented for the next 12 months, with approximately the same terms and conditions.
However, given that:
a. Citizens who were eligible to participate in the program were subject to a complete travel ban for approximately seven months due to the coronavirus outbreak.
b. Businesses in the tourism industry that are part of the program did not operate for the same reason.
c. According to information, approximately 70,000 beneficiaries of the program redeemed their social tourism vouchers, out of more than 300,000 who have vouchers and
d. The budget for the program's costs has already been estimated.
I believe that, in order to stimulate tourism as described above, it is imperative to review the duration of the current program, extending it until the end of 2021 and, in addition, allowing beneficiaries to choose destinations within their regional unit of residence, both for the current program and for the expected new social tourism program.
In light of the above, the minister is asked:
As part of the supervisory role of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the OAED will ensure that the current social tourism program is extended until the end of 2021 and, in addition, will social tourism be made available within the region of residence, so as to facilitate the participation of persons with reduced mobility in the program?;
The Questioning Member of Parliament
Nikolaos Manolakos
Member of Parliament for New Democracy, Piraeus A and Islands
