Ioannina Hoteliers urge support for mountain accommodations

The Ioannina Hoteliers Association has issued an urgent appeal to Greek authorities regarding the declining sustainability of mountain accommodations in the Ioannina region. In a letter addressed to the Special Secretary for Mountainous Areas, Dimitrios Kyriazis, and copied to Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni, the association highlighted that many of its 78 member establishments are small, family-run businesses that serve as vital economic lifelines for mountain villages.

The association reports a significant drop in occupancy rates and turnover in recent years, driven by geopolitical developments affecting key foreign markets and a reduction in disposable income both domestically and abroad. This downturn has led several businesses to be sold, leased, or placed on the market at prices that do not reflect their original investment value.

To combat this crisis, the association proposed several measures, including:

• The creation of a specialized support program for mountain destinations, similar to the ‘Tourism for All’ initiative. • Consistent promotion of mountain Greece by the Greek National Tourism Organization. • Incentives to attract workers, such as subsidies for housing and transportation costs. • Access to energy offset investments through net metering to mitigate high energy costs.