Business Desk 
Dec 10, 2024
The government of Greece unveiled its plans to introduce significantly higher taxes for tourists starting next year. With this step, the renowned Schengen country aims to boost the revenue from the tourism sector.
Higher daily taxes for tourists in Greece
Citing sources, ProPakistani reported that these new taxes will be applied across areas, including daily accommodations charges, city taxes, and cruise ship passengers’ fees, making visiting Greece more costly.
Starting in 2025, tourists will have to face a daily tax increase from €0.50 to €2, with the rate jumping to €8 from April to October, the peak tourist season in the country.
However, those staying in luxury hotels might have to pay a tax of €15 per night, while accommodations with lower ratings will have more modest charges.
Cruise ship taxes in Greece
Moreover, the cruise ship passenger fees are said to increase significantly, with popular island destinations such as Santorini and Mykonos charging €20, while other locations like Athens and Crete charging €5 per day.
The Greek government aims to generate €400 million annually from these taxes which is almost double compared to last year’s revenue.
Notably, tourism is a significant sector in Greece's economy, contributing significantly to its recovery from the 2018 debt crisis.
According to the latest figures, 24.89 million international visitors, primarily from countries like France, Italy, Spain, Türkiye, and the US, travelled to Greece between January and August 2024, from which the country generated €15 billion in revenue.
