Tourism For All: What the new programme provides for

With subsidy as and 100% and many additional options, the program «Tourism for All» enables an additional 300 thousand Greeks to create their own holiday programme within the country by the end of the year.

What is changing in the Programme this year?;

Thousands of Greek citizens will have the opportunity to enjoy a particularly expanded, flexible and improved programme this year, thanks to the initiatives of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Sophia Zacharaki. A programme that aims to stimulating domestic tourism, through the possibility for beneficiaries to redeem their vouchers, even in the case of a stay of less than 4 nights, as originally stipulated in the programme.

At the same time, the percentage of subsidy of accommodation: for a stay of 2 or 3 nights, the entire cost is now subsidised (maximum 40 euro/day per person), while in the case of 4 nights, the subsidy amounts to 80% of the cost (maximum 30 euro/day per person).

It is stressed that, especially for case of disabled persons, their subsistence allowance covers the entire cost (100%) for any length of stay they choose.

Finally, following the actions of the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Sophia Zacharaki, the programme includes new accommodation or tourist agencies - providers, further expanding the opportunities and choices available through the programme to its beneficiaries.

As the Deputy Minister of Tourism stated, «the Government's main priority and the Ministry's bet, which must be won, is the successful opening and restart of our tourism. Promoting and strengthening domestic tourism, especially in a year like this year, is of particular strategic importance.

«Our goal is to encourage and revive the tourist interest and the willingness of our fellow citizens to move to the country, to get to know the beauties of our country, to gain experiences, always under the terms of security and high quality of services provided by our providers. To this end, we are increasing the attractiveness of the programme, providing new and more opportunities for utilisation, increasing the rate of subsidy and including new providers.

«At the same time, we have taken all necessary steps to by the end of the year another 100,000 citizens will have the opportunity to benefit from the Programme. After the deadline for expressing the interest of providers to cooperate, the platform will be reopened for the submission of new applications by interested parties.».

Until when can vouchers be redeemed?;

Taking into account the specific circumstances created by the health crisis with the horizontal block on travel, it is noted that the validity of all vouchers that have not been redeemed has been extended until 31/12/2021.

Who are the beneficiaries of the programme?;

The «Tourism for All» Programme is addressed to almost all Greek citizens. The selection of beneficiaries is made by drawing lots from the applications submitted via the www.tourism4all.gov.gr platform. The criterion for submitting the application is that the annual personal income must not exceed 16,000 euros or 28,000 euros in the case of a family, with an additional 1,500 euros per minor child.

What are the possibilities offered by the Programme?;

The programme concerns the subsidisation of accommodation and, where appropriate, the use of other tourist services (transport, museum tours, diving etc.) through the granting of special vouchers to the selected beneficiaries.

It is perhaps the broadest social tourism programme through which the Greek Government is supporting the tourism sector in one of the most difficult times. Its total budget amounts to €100 million, which correspond to 365,603 vouchers from which more than 600,000 Greeks can benefit.

It should be noted that last year, despite the special circumstances, more than 46,000 beneficiaries had the opportunity to organise their travel within the country through the programme in an easy, fair and transparent way.

Where applicable, vouchers can be issued either for redemption directly to a tourist accommodation that is included in the Programme's Register of Providers or to a tourist agency that is also included in the Register.

More specifically, the possibilities provided from this year through the Programme are as follows:

Α. ACCOMMODATION VOUCHER HOLDERS

All beneficiaries who did not use the voucher can choose a 2 or 3 or 4 days stay subsidized up to 100% in the accommodation as follows:

* 2 or 3 nights

Subsidy 100% with a maximum amount of 40€/day/person (valid for all)

* or 4 nights

Subsidy 80% with a maximum amount of 30€/day/person

100% subsidy for disabled with a maximum amount of 30€/day/person

Β. TOURIST OFFICE VOUCHER HOLDERS

Beneficiaries have the possibility to apply to a tourist agency - provider to create a tourist package, combining two or more tourist services. Up to fifty percent (50%) or sixty percent (60%) for persons with a mental or physical disability of at least 67%, of the tourist package offered by the provider/tourist agency, up to a maximum of one hundred and twenty euros (120€) per person (beneficiary or beneficiary).

Where to find the Accommodation Directory

The list with the Register of Providers is accessible through the application www.tourism4all.gov.gr and shall be updated: FINAL LIST OF PROVIDERS - ACCOMMODATION

Where to find the list of Tourist Offices

The list with the Register of Providers is accessible through the application www.tourism4all.gov.gr and shall be updated: FINAL LIST OF SUPPLIERS - TOURIST OFFICES.

It should be noted that the programme is expanding even further, as new providers are expected to join the existing lists in the near future.

Will there be a possibility to submit new applications?;

The Ministry of Tourism, following an initiative taken by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, has already taken the necessary steps to allow the submission of new applications by interested parties who have not yet received a voucher. The opening of the platform will be communicated soon with a further announcement by the Ministry, while the procedure for submitting applications remains the same. A further 100,000 of our fellow citizens will have the opportunity to benefit from this new upcoming implementation cycle of the programme.

All information is available on the Programme app: www.tourism4all.gov.gr