15 January 2024 , 17:03
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Brits heading on Greece holidays will have to fork out for a new tax when staying in the country.
The cash fee, which will be introduced later this month, is part of efforts to repair damage caused by recent wildfires and floods linked to climate change. Hotel fees in Greece are set to rise as a result, with one or two-star hotels increasing by 1.50 euros per night, three-star hotels by 3 euros, four-star hotels by 7 euros, and five-star hotels by 10 euros.
The Greek government hopes this will bring in an extra 300 million euros in 2024. The new tax will also apply to short-term rentals booked online, with apartments charged at 1.50 euros and single-family homes and luxury accommodations at 10 euros per night. These taxes won't be included in the prices given by operators or travel agents, but must be paid once at the accommodation, reports BristolPost.
The tax amount will be roughly halved to the current rate of the already active 'tourist tax' during the off season, which runs from November to February. Unlike the previous accommodation tax, the new tax will also apply to short-term rentals booked through online platforms.
Greece was hit by floods and wildfires last year (Phil Harris)This comes after severe flooding in Greece last September, described as the worst in the country's history, which caused seventeen casualties and significant damage to infrastructure. The government estimated that repairing railroads alone would cost more than 150 million euros.
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The Greek island of Rhodes was one of a number of locations which was hit by serious wildfires that led to widespread evacuation and enormous, expensive damage to tourist infrastructure.
Despite the issues, Greece remains one of the most popular destinations in Europe this year. Between January and September, international arrivals in Greece were up 7% from 2019, according to the European Travel Commission.
This isn't the first time tourists have been hit with a new charge. Last year it was announced that Venice will start charging tourists a new daily fee from Spring in a bid to deter huge crowds from overwhelming the City of Water. The plans come after UNESCO raised the alarm about the impact the high volume of visitors were having on Venice and the need for urgent action.
While the daily fee may seem small, across a week's stay, a family of four could end up paying more than £100 to the city, on top of the cost of accommodation, transport and souvenir model gondolas.
Bali, recently named the second most popular holiday spot for 2024, will introduce the fee from February 14. Local news reports say the levy will be IDR 150,000, roughly £7.50.
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