Greek hospitality sector economic pressures

The Greek hospitality sector is facing significant economic pressure, leading to criticism from both political figures and industry federations regarding government policy.

Evangelia Liakouli of PASOK-KINAL highlighted that businesses in regions like Thessaly and Larissa are struggling with high energy prices, tax burdens, and a shortage of specialized personnel. She advocated for debt relief through installment plans and the reduction of VAT to support small businesses.

Following these concerns, the Panhellenic Federation of Restaurants and Related Occupations (POESE) criticized specific government measures announced at the Thessaloniki International Fair. POESE argued that the government failed to meet industry demands, such as restoring a uniform 13% VAT and abolishing special taxes on coffee and delivery services. The federation expressed concern that increasing the minimum wage, while only offering a 0.5% reduction in employee social security contributions, would further escalate labor costs for businesses already facing declining turnover.