On August 1, 2024, the social tourism program for pensioners of e-EFKA (formerly OAEE) begins and will last until July 31, 2025, as from July 15 at 08:00 to July 20, 2024 at 23:59 is the deadline for the electronic submission of beneficiary and provider applications.

As the Deputy Director of the Public Employment Service (PYPA), Gianna Hormova, points out, in her statements to APE-MPE, “this is a PYPA program that provides pensioners with the opportunity to enjoy holidays in selected accommodations throughout Greece, at a reduced cost , enhancing their social well-being and quality of life.

The aim of the program is to provide opportunities for rest and recreation to a large group of beneficiaries, amounting to 25,000. This number includes the applicant pensioners, as well as their direct and indirect beneficiary members, such as spouses, children and PWD companions.

The applications of the interested parties will be submitted exclusively through the Single Digital Portal of the Hellenic State gov.gr”.

Beneficiaries of the program are only the pensioners of e-EFKA (former OAEE).

Beneficiaries of the program are:

  • the children of the beneficiaries, aged between 5 and 18 years,
  • the children of the beneficiaries, aged over 18, as long as they are indirectly insured or directly insured, due to disability, with a percentage of 67% or more,
  • the spouses of the beneficiaries, when they are indirectly insured members and
  • the companions of disabled beneficiaries or beneficiaries with a disability of 67% or more, with a certificate from a competent public body.

The purpose of the program is the realization of vacations by pensioners in accommodations of the register of providers of the program.

The length of stay ranges from one to six nights in all regions of Greece.

Especially, for specific destinations, such as Leros, Lesbos, Chios, Kos and Samos, the stay can reach 10 nights, while for North Evia, Evros and Thessaly, outside Sporades, the 12 nights are free.

The social tourism check also covers the ferry crossing and return, with beneficiaries participating in the cost by 25%, while, for the disabled, the ferry tickets are free, making holidays affordable and easier for all beneficiaries.

The subsidy prices paid by DYPA to accommodation providers are increased by 20% for the month of August, the Christmas period (15/12/2024-14/01/2025) and Easter (11/04/2025-27/04 /2025).

In the areas with the possibility of a 10-day and 12-day stay, the accommodation is completely free for the beneficiaries, while in other areas the private participation ranges from 1 to 12 euros per person per day, depending on the category of accommodation and the provision of breakfast, making the program economical affordable for everyone.

With reference to the social tourism program of DYPA for the period 2024-2025, Ms. Hormova notes that this is developing successfully. 300,000 social tourism vouchers have already been issued, while since July 1, 2024, when the program started, more than 8,500 vouchers have been activated.

According to Mrs. Hormova, the increase in the budget by 43% is characteristic of the support of the program by DYPA. “Given the mutual cooperation relationship of DYPA with the providers of tourist accommodation (hotels and rentals), this year even more providers have joined our register, thereby expanding the choices of the beneficiaries” says Mrs. Hormova.