The first fortnight of June is expected to open the platform of the Public Employment Service (DYPA) for the submission of applications for the program social tourism, which will be implemented from August 1 to July 31, 2024.

The beneficiaries of the vouchers will amount to, as last year, to 300,000.

This year’s program will be particularly enhanced and attractive, both for beneficiaries and providers, as it is characterized by reduced to zero private participation for beneficiaries in the cost of overnight stays in tourist accommodation and increased subsidy prices to providers.

The main features

Therefore, those interested who want to participate in the program should know the following:

1. Beneficiaries and overnight stays

Beneficiaries and beneficiaries of the program have the possibility to spend up to 6 nights in tourist accommodation which they choose from the DYPA “Provider Register” after their direct consultation with the provider. The social tourism program is aimed at those who:

  • They worked as employees for 50 days.
  • They received 50 days of special maternity protection from the OAED.
  • They received unemployment benefit for at least 2 months (50 daily benefits) or accumulated 50 days cumulatively of the above (days of work, special maternity protection benefit and unemployment benefit).

Regarding overnight stays in tourist accommodation, the following are highlighted:

  • Up to 10 nights can be booked with zero private participation in tourist accommodation located in Leros, Lesvos, Chios, Kos and in the prefecture of Evros.
  • Up to 12 nights can be spent completely free of charge in the accommodations of the Municipalities of Istiaia-Edipsos and Mantoudi-Limni-Ag. Anna of North Evia and Samos.

2. The ferry tickets

The program also subsidizes the ferry tickets. The participation of the general category of beneficiaries amounts to 25%, those with many children to 20%, while for the disabled the ferry tickets are available free of charge.

3. Scoring criteria

Scoring criteria are the declared annual income (the heating allowance criteria will be respected) and the number of minor children. More favorable, an annual income of up to 30,000 euros will be the criteria for the long-term unemployed.

4. This year’s increased subsidy prices

This year’s increased subsidy prices apply to all categories of accommodation (5-12% in hotels and 3-8% in rooms for rent), while for the month of August a 20% increase in the subsidy is foreseen, as it was last year. The increase will be valid for the whole year for the accommodations of North Evia and Samos.

5. Who loses the Social Tourism voucher

Outside of the Social Tourism program for the 2023-2024 period are the selected beneficiaries – beneficiaries within the framework of the Social Tourism programs for the 2022-2023 period, regardless of whether they made use of the provision or not.

However, those beneficiaries who belong to the category of persons with a disability of 50% or more are exempt and can participate in programs of two consecutive periods with everything declared in their application. Those who declare in their application a beneficiary member or a non-beneficiary minor child with a disability also participate in the same percentage.

B. What applies to last year’s program beneficiaries

It is reminded that the beneficiaries of last year’s program who have not yet activated their checks should hurry to do so in order not to be faced with a “penalty”, i.e. they will not be able to take part in the next two Social Tourism programs of the periods 2023-2024 and 2024-2025. Therefore, the above should take vacations with the voucher this.

C. Social tourism program of the Rural Home of OPECA

OPECA announced that from May 25, 2023, the submission of applications for the Social Tourism program of OPECA’s Rural Center will begin. In particular, for all OPECA social tourism programs, social tourism, spa tourism, camps and excursions, the applications will start on May 25 and will be completed in mid-June and are expected to be implemented on July 4-5.