Tourism is the popular economy of Greece, emphasizes the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias in an article in the Free Press on Sunday. Focusing on the multiple international crises: the pandemic, the energy crisis and the secondary precision crises, he emphasizes that the most basic strategy for dealing with them is to increase the disposable income of Greeks. Therefore, as he says, “the most effective tool to achieve this goal is tourism, which brings 1 in 4 euros to the economy – that is 25% of GDP – and therefore is the main popular economy of Greece.”
“Money from tourism goes directly to the real economy, giving a deep breath of oxygen to everyone: the catering entrepreneur, the tourism worker, the rental room owner, the supply chain, the carrier, the mini-market owner, the farmer. “To all the people, vertically and horizontally, immediately, without intermediaries and delays”, he states characteristically.
Among other things, he states that tourism is the most basic means of regional development that our country has. “Our small islands and mountainous areas are attracting investment and retaining their population thanks to the tourism product. Small local units, in the primary sector (agriculture, livestock, fisheries) are developing in the periphery, supplying the tourist units for most of it. “Not only do young people have no reason to leave, but they return to their place. The quality of our products is a comparative advantage in the race to attract visitors.”
“Along with the revenues of tourism, and with the ultimate goal of supporting tourism entrepreneurship, the Local Government and the central state have the opportunity to invest in projects and services that are reforming Greece. Roads, ports, airports, hospitals, public spaces are being upgraded “and thus improves the quality of life of both permanent residents and visitors,” explains the minister.
In any case, Mr. Kikilias explains, “in the difficult and demanding times we live in, tourism is the best means of protecting the people from the consequences of crises, as it returns the dividend of success to the average Greek family.”
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