The permanent one equating the traffic fees of tourist buses with what applies to other transport operators, OITLE asks. “It was promised to us by the previous leadership of Government Ministers and now the 595-euro ravas have started coming,” representatives of the Federation of Tourism Entrepreneurs, Tourist Office and Bus Owners of Greece state to GRTimes.gr.

Nationwide protests also for tourist buses, tomorrow, Wednesday, February 21, which essentially ask the Government? To keep its promises and the immediate ministerial decision to reduce traffic fees as it applies to other transport operators (KTEL, Urban, Intercity buses) who pay half the traffic fees.

According to a statement by the Federation of Tourism Entrepreneurs, Tourist Office & Bus Owners of Greece (OITLE) “up until today, any attempt we have made to meet the Minister of Finance, Mr. Hatzidakis, to explain to him the injustice that our industry has been suffering for many years, unfortunately it fell flat.

The previous leadership of the Ministry of Finance had committed to us, for the permanent and final settlement of the issue of equating the traffic fees of Tourist buses with what applies to other transport operators who use the same buses and pay half (!) traffic fees in relation to us.

Unfortunately, once again the non-compliance with the Government’s commitment causes the indignation of the owners of tourist buses”, the relevant announcement points out.

The… 595 euro ravas

One of the ‘thorns’ faced by the Federation of Tourism Entrepreneurs of Tourist Offices & Bus Owners of Greece is the permanent reduction of traffic fees and their equalization with the rest of the transport operators.

“The measure is unfair, we are talking about unfair competition for local communities, and while we have the same cars, with the same steering wheel, the same windows, the same seats, we pay the road tax in full, that is 595 euros per year for the every vehicle” states to GRTimes.gr the president of the Federation of Tourism Entrepreneurs – Tourist Office and Bus Owners Apostolos Emmanuilidis.

The president of the Macedonian Association of Tourism Agents of Thrace and 1st vice-president of OITLE Michalis Pezikoglou speaks of a fair request, explaining to GRTimes.gr that in 2019 they had paid the traffic fees for the following year (2020), but then the pandemic occurred and the restrictive measures. “And while we were told that we would be refunded that money from the road tax we had paid and we were at a standstill, nothing was refunded,” he adds.

It is recalled that with the intervention of the then Deputy Minister of Finance Apostolos Vesyropoulos, for the years 2021 and 2022, there was a 50% reduction in fees. “This year, we were promised that it would be consolidated with a relevant law, which did not happen,” it is pointed out.

Tomorrow’s demonstrations

So, for tomorrow, Wednesday 21 February, given the situation described above by business owners of tourist offices and buses in Greece, OITLE is proceeding with mobilization with their vehicles with protest rallies in all cities of Greece.

In Thessaloniki, two gatherings will take place, east and west of the city. Specifically, tourist buses will gather on Konstantinos Karamanlis Avenue, at the height of G.N. Hippocrates as well as on Giannitsa, at the height of the shopping mall ‘One Salonica’.

As informed by GRTimes.gr at least 200 tourist buses will provide ‘present’ potential, while if owners from Halkidiki and around Thessaloniki also mobilize, then the number of vehicles will increase.

In Veria, at least 60 buses will gather on Thessaloniki Street, at the level of the Railway Station. In Volos, approximately 20 buses will get off with a meeting point in front of the Volos City Hall.

In Athens, the meeting point of the approximately 200 vehicles will be on Syngrou Avenue, at the height of the Athens Marriott Hotel, while in Nafplio the protest of the vehicles will take place in front of the Prefecture building.

The nationwide gathering time has been set for 9 in the morning and as industry sources state, if no solution is found they will proceed with a possible road blockade as well as a complaint to the Competition Commission for unfair competition in relation to the other transport operators.