The Greek parliament approved a bill on Wednesday to increase the daily tax on short-term rentals and hotel nights, and to introduce fees for visitors arriving by cruise ships. The measures are aimed at dealing with the economic consequences of natural disasters caused by climate change, reports "Reuters".
Greece, which is increasingly facing extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and forest fires, is under financial pressure because of these events. Tourism, the main driver of the country's economy, plays a key role in its recovery after the debt crisis.
"We aim to raise 400 million euros a year, almost double what was raised last year,", a senior Finance Ministry official told "Reuters".
In addition, the bill increases the daily tax for hotel accommodation by up to 15 euros in the summer months, depending on the category of the hotel. For those arriving by cruise ships, fees will be €20 for popular destinations such as Santorini and Mykonos and €5 for other destinations.
In 2023 The Greek government has approved an additional budget of 600 million euros to compensate households and businesses, as well as to repair damage to rail and road infrastructure caused by storm Daniel.
The measures aim to support Greece's economy while the country adapts to the growing risks of climate change.