By Vangelis Dourakis

‘Opens’ Within the week – according to information – the digital platform for the social tourism of the DUI. 2025-26: Through this Public Employment Service Program, thousands of families can secure a “coupon” for free vacations up to 12 nights. In addition, beyond the subsidy of residence, it is foreseen Discount on ferry tickets.

From the applications to be submitted, it is estimated that they will “distinguish” nearly 300,000 “lucky” – as last year – who will be able to activate the voucher they will receive from July 1.

Redeemed checks – what is true for ferry

The check, by which the participation process is done, is a unique number for each beneficiary and every beneficiary (spouses, children, escorts of disabled) separately. The checks will be able to be redeemed from July 1, 2025 to August 30, 2026.

Beneficiaries can carry out up to 6 overnight stays in a tourist accommodation they choose from the “Register of Providers” of DBA, then directly with the provider, with a private participation starting at 1 euro and will not exceed 11.5 euros per night, depending on the nights, depending on the 4 Breakfast.

But there is also a list of destinations where the holder’s participation is zero, in other words, stay is free.

And even the number of days that one is entitled to spend the night there is “going up” from the 6 that is for the rest of Greece, at 10 and 12 nights.

The list of destinations where participation is zero includes Leros, Lesvos, Chios, Kos and Samos where those who secure checks can make up to 10 nights completely free of charge.

In the accommodation of North Evia, Evros and Thessaly (except Sporades) the number of free nights is increased to 12.

In addition to staying in tourist accommodation, ferry tickets are subsidized. The participation of the beneficiaries is 25%.

In the families of many children, participation is limited to 20%, while for people with disabilities, ferry tickets are available for free.

The disabled is provided for the possibility of participating each year, the entitled of escort and zero private participation in the ferry tickets, and they are not subject to sanction if they do not use their checks.

Employees and unemployed are not participated in the program of social tourism program for another period for the same period and those (outside the disabled) have received a check in the 2024-25 program.

The process of submitting applications for the program

Applications are exclusively submitted electronically via Gov.gr with Taxisnet codes at:
https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies/ergasia-kai-asphalise/apozemioseis-kai-parokhes/koinonikos-tourismos

Specifically, the route is: Initial – Work and Insurance – Compensation and Benefits – Social Tourism Programs (DBA).

The platform will gradually open up to the last digit of the taxpayer of the beneficiaries concerned.

Beneficiaries of the free holiday program are:

  • employees with a dependent employment relationship of private law at the expiration of the deadline for submitting applications or
  • Insured to EEFKA in their professional category with contributions in favor of the DBA unemployment industry at any time from 01.01.2023 until the expiry of the deadline for submission of applications or
  • Unemployed with a continuous period of unemployment at least three months at the date of expiry of the application deadline.

Family income may not exceed 30,000 euros, while for the long -term unemployed (unemployment over 12 months) the income cannot exceed € 16,000 for the unmarried, € 24,000 for married (€ 5,000 per child) or € 29,000 for the first € 5,000 per child).