Joint Statement by Spyridaki – Nikitiadis: “Complete Absence of a National Strategy to Support Small and Medium-Sized Tourism Enterprises”
Joint statement by Katerina Spyridaki, MP for Lasithi and Tourism Sector Head, and Giorgos Nikitiadis, MP for the Dodecanese and Development Sector Head of PASOK – Movement for Change, regarding the underfunding of investment plans for new SMEs in the tourism sector:
“70% of tourism investment plans are left without support from the NSRF, according to the announcement by the Ministry of National Economy and Finance on new investment plans for SMEs in tourism. This is the reality behind the so-called executive excellence of the government. The NSRF data reveal a total absence of a national strategy for supporting small and medium-sized tourism businesses. Seven out of ten investment proposals were rejected, and half of those rejected were actually deemed eligible but were left without funding due to a… lack of money.
As if it wasn’t enough that the New Democracy government removed the word ‘tourism’ from the core objectives of the new Development Law, we are now witnessing yet another act of total disregard for tourism entrepreneurship.
Instead of supporting new professionals, they choose to turn their backs on them. There is no national strategic planning. Instead of investing in home ports, marinas, and alternative forms of tourism to extend the tourist season, upgrade the tourism product, improve competitiveness, and increase employment, they choose to devalue the tourism sector.
The government has consciously chosen to abandon tourism.”
