The implementation of the ND’s pre-election commitments regarding the reduction of taxes and the support of the middle class, the Minister of Tourism, Vassilis Kikilias, underlined in an interview he granted to the ATTICA television station.

“SYRIZA proceeded with a series of tax increases that led to the strangulation of the Greek economy, culminating in the closed banks and the 100 billion, with which it charged the Greek economy and the rolled over to the workers, the salaried, the self-employed, the middle class, the popular strata. instead – and the sample of the comparison is now measurable – the New Democracy government reduced 50 taxes and contributions, emblematic, in fact, taxes that plagued and marked the memorial years, such as ENFIA and others”, noted Mr. Kikilias, while in particular he referred to the decisive contribution of the impressive recovery of tourism to the country’s economy and development.

“ND proceeded with development policies – we saw them in 2022 and 2023 – spearheading Greek tourism, which gave the Greek economy a surplus that was shared among social groups and, indeed, in very difficult times,” the minister emphasized of Tourism, pointing out that the 44 billion given by the government during the pandemic and the 13 billion to deal with inflation and the energy crisis, as a result of the war in Ukraine, are a clear measure of comparison between the ND and SYRIZA governments in the , what concerns the social policy of the two parties.

He also emphasized that tourism in Greece had the biggest recovery and return to profitability in all of Europe, resulting in significant support for small and medium-sized businesses, the agricultural world that supplies hotels, accommodation, catering and trade, short-term letting and people renting a real estate to boost their income, of the hundreds of thousands of workers employed in the tourism industry but also in construction which is constantly developing due to the investments that tourism brings to the country.

As Mr. Kikilias mentioned, service exports set a record in 2022, with tourism bringing in state coffers revenues of 17.6 billion euros, i.e. 2.6 billion more than the Ministry of Finance had predicted in the budget , an assessment which, in fact, was made before the war broke out in Ukraine and the domino economic crises followed.

“Obviously, whoever you ask will confirm this: the hoteliers in the traditional settlements of the winter destinations, in Athens where our city break policy has succeeded so that we have tourists throughout the year, in the restaurants and in the tavernas us in the islands and mountain destinations, to those people who work in entertainment, tour guides, etc. All of these people saw an increase in their incomes. This is the popular economy, it is the structure of the middle class, it is the small and medium, it is not the big ones”, noted the Minister of Tourism.

“What was the pro-people policy of SYRIZA in everything to do with the middle class and the popular strata, which they always want to appeal to?” They overtaxed them wildly, crushed them and did not leave any prospects for the young people, who were arrested abroad, no new business was opened, there was no prospect”, concluded Mr. Kikilias.