Tourism: Holidays to the islands are unreachable for Greeks – How much will a family pay?

The prices for the coveted holidays of an average Greek family are skyrocketing this year, since the cost of a few days of relaxation far exceeds the monthly family income, while it also exceeds the summer allowance that private sector workers will receive.

Travelers are set to flock to the beaches this summer – if they can afford it. As everyday purchases like food, gas and utilities have become much more expensive in recent months, many families are being forced to rethink their vacation plans, if not cancel them altogether.

In the way of plane tickets where prices have taken off and ferry tickets, which in the rally of inflation are just a click cheaper than air tickets, just enough to be tempted to think about whether it is worth losing several hours in relation to air travel to earn a few euros.

How much will a family pay for a round trip vacation?

Chania: 499 euros

Chios: 596 euros

Samos: 837 euros

Ferry tickets compared to June 2022.

Naxos: From 48 euros it reached 51.50 – 72.50 euros

Paros: From 46.50 euros it reached 50 – 71 euros

Ios: From 50 euros it reached 84.70 euros

Mykonos: From 48.50 euros it reached 52 – 84.70 euros

Syros: From 42.50 euros it reached 45.50 – 67.70 euros

It should be noted that for a family with two children, it is rather imperative to travel with their own vehicle, whether it is to a seaside place or an island, raising the cost of the ferry to the heights.

If one calculates the expenses required to be covered by a family with two minor children to travel to a tourist destination for a week, the cost reaches or exceeds 1,500 euros, not counting the expenses for food, coffee, sunbeds and the travel by car. If these costs are included, the cost can double.

The bet on social tourism

There is a deluge of applications for social tourism program “vouchers”.

Thus, the Social Tourism platform was reopened, for those who did not have time to apply, by Monday, June 5.

The program platform will remain open until Sunday, June 11 at 11:59 p.m.

579,580 applications for a total of 1,068,904 checks were submitted for the 2023-2024 Social Tourism Program for Employees – Unemployed of the Public Employment Service, as the interest shown by the beneficiaries was particularly intense. It is indicative that from Sunday and Monday (on June 4 and 5 the platform was open for all TINs) approximately 360,000 applications were submitted.

It is recalled that, for the first time, the program will start one month earlier (July 1 instead of August 1) and concerns 300,000 checks with a budget of 35 million euros.

Beneficiaries

The selection is based on the scoring of specific criteria (disabled, single parent, number of children, income) through the DYPA’s Integrated Information System (IPS).

Beneficiaries-beneficiaries can spend up to 6 nights in accommodation they choose from the DYPA Register of Providers, after consultation with the provider, with little private participation.

Especially for accommodations in Leros, Lesvos, Chios, Kos and in the prefecture of Evros, up to 10 nights can be spent completely free, while in the accommodations of the Municipalities of Istiaia-Edipsos and Mantoudi-Limni-Ag. Anna of North Evia and Samos up to 12 nights can be spent free of charge.

The amount of subsidies

Subsidy prices remain up 20% for the peak month of August, the same as last year. In addition, for the first time they are increased by 20% during the periods of Christmas (from 15.12.2023 to 14.01.2024) and Easter (from 26.04.2024 to 12.05.2024), while the increase is valid all year round for accommodation of North Evia and Samos.

In addition to accommodation in tourist accommodation, ferry tickets are also subsidized. The participation of beneficiaries amounts to 25% and those with multiple children to 20%. For people with disabilities, ferry tickets are available free of charge.

For the first time, in this year’s program, the categories of beneficiaries are expanded, while vulnerable groups are strengthened, as points are provided for people with disabilities and single parents.

Beneficiaries

Employees with a dependent employment relationship under private law at the end of the deadline of submitting applications or unemployed persons with a continuous period of unemployment of at least three months on the application deadline or insured with eEFKA in their professional category with contributions in favor of the unemployment branch of the DYPA at any time between 01.01.2022 and the day before the application deadline.

Income must not exceed 30,000 euros, unless it is long-term unemployed, who if single must have an income of up to 16,000 euros, if married up to 24,000 euros, increased by 3,000 euros per child or if single parents up to 27,000 euros , increased by 3,000 euros per child after the first.

Those who are subsidized through a social tourism program of any other organization for the same period cannot participate.

The supporting documents related to the conditions of participation or the scoring of the beneficiaries are sought ex officio. In those cases where supporting documents are required due to the impossibility of an ex officio search, these are attached to the applications.