Eurostat: More than 9.3 overnight stays in Greece in first half of the year on AirBnB-type lodgings

Overnight stays in short-term lease properties in Greece exceeded 9.3 million in the first half of the year, according to figures announced on Monday by Eurostat, and compiled from data by AirBnb, Booking, Expedia Group and Tripadvisor.

Specifically, the biggest number of those overnight stays were recorded in May and June, and exceed the figures for the corresponding periods in 2022 and 2019, the record-breaking year for Greece’s tourism sector.

The Greek government has tabled legislation making the framework governing short-term property leasing in the country, so-called “AirBnB” lodgings, stricter.
Such legal changes, if enacted, will mark the first time since 2017 that legislation affecting this booming sector of the tourism industry has been introduced in the east Mediterranean country.

Among the stricter provisions envisioned is one that transforms an individual taxpayer into a business operator if exploiting more than three properties on short-term lease/stay platforms. In other words, a personal tax code number appearing on three or more such properties – regardless of location – will mean that the individual is imposed with a business tax rate of 22 percent of generated profits, while also being forced to tack on VAT to overnight stays and pay a standard hotel stay fee.