UK tourists are being warned their holidays to Greece could be in jeopardy due to new changes that could “tank” the economy of the popular European Union holiday destination. The Ministry of Tourism has proposed draft legislationwhich aims to regulate Airbnbs and short-term lets for the first time.
The Greek Short-Term Accommodation Managers Association (STAMA) has penned a letter to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, urging his Government to reconsider the plans. The proposed changes could disrupt Greece’s booming short-term rental market.
Article 3 of the draft law stipulates that properties that changed their use after 2011 will not be eligible for short-term rental. STAMA, representing a significant portion of Greece’s short-term accommodation sector, has voiced its strong opposition to this measure, warning of serious economic, social, and urban repercussions if it is implemented.
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The provision requires that properties rented for short-term use must be classified as “primary residential spaces” under Greek law, or their change of use must have been legalised by July 28, 2011. This effectively excludes properties that were converted after this date, including many office buildings and industrial spaces in urban centres that were repurposed into short-term rentals.
STAMA has slammed the new measure as both “discriminatory” and “impractical,” claiming it unfairly “punishes” property owners and investors who have legally transformed unused spaces. In a letter, STAMA outlined several key objections to the proposed rule, reports Birmingham Live.
Back in early December, the ministry stated: “The new regulations address contemporary challenges while safeguarding the competitiveness and resilience of Greek tourism, with a strong emphasis on respect for people and the environment”. However, STAMA contends that the regulations concerning newly converted short-term rentals are “discriminatory” and “impractical”.
Despite this controversy, Greece continues to be a top destination for British holidaymakers, with hotspots such as Crete, Corfu, and others.
