Greek property news

There are new building regulations that the Greek government are expected to be introducing into law soon.

These new regulations are important for all owners of Greek property who own land and are planning to build now or in the future. They refer to all building plots of land inside or outside the town plan.

The Greek goverment is changing the minimum size of land required to build. Anybody who owns land smaller than the new required amount will be unable to build unless they have planning permission already submitted. This means that if you have bought a piece of land legally under Greek Law that was the required minimum size of 4,000 square metres outside the town plan and are waiting to raise enough funds to build your house on it, or are keeping it for your retirement, unless you have building permission already submitted you will not be allowed to build on it.

We are still waiting conformation of the exact new minimum size required by law to build outside the settlement boundaries to be finalised on Skopelos but it is rumoured to be a minimun of 8,000 or 10,000 square metres. (Remember the need for Forest Department clearance – you will need to have 8,000 or 10,000 sq clear of forest. Many large plots e.g. 12,000 sq might be un-buildable because 3,500 could be classified as forest.)

We advise you to contact your lawyer for conformation of the new minimum size of land required to build as it may of been already introduced into law in your area.

We have been informed that this new law may be contested and when we know the outcome we will update this post as to what the new minimum size is.

Below are the new regulations for building within the settlement boundaries. This has basicaly changed from 30% of land undeveloped to 40% of land undeveloped.

New regulations for building within the settlement boundaries – Skopelos

Land up to 200 sq metres -  you can build a house up to 200 sq metres provided you leave 40% of the land not built on.
Land between 200 and 400 sq metres – you can build a house up to 240 sq metres provided you leave 40% of the land not built on.
Land over 700 sq metres – you can build a house up to 400 sq metres.

More to follow…

With kind regards
Angels Greek Island Homes

Below is a question and answer email between Dave of Cheltenham and a Civil Engineer about the new building regulations and planning permission in Greece.

Dave of Cheltenham says...
We have already started the design of our villa. We have instructed a Civil Engineer to commence the design and are due to receive a draft copy of the design this week. We have been advised that the permission prices have increased due to the compulsory kenak.

We are told that this is a new energy saving plan which includes electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning, water design plans from the mechanical engineer. The permission cost now for  a 150 m2 plus 50 m2 basement is 22.000 euro (15.500 + 6.500 taxes), without a swimming pool.

I have inserted questions we sent to our Civil Engineer, his response is in Bold

Please can you clarify a couple of points – sorry if I am repeating myself but we are feeling the pressure a bit and obviously are extremely concerned that nothing will go wrong and leave us owners of a bit of land which is way too small to build on etc…

Once you have submitted the plans (possibly within the next few days, as you suggested) does this mean that we are protecting and securing our position regardless of any pending law changes?  Yes, from what we are told from the planning department, if your plans have been submitted you are then covered regardless of any new change that may occur.

I.e. does this then mean we have permission to build a villa on our land regardless of whatever laws are passed after we have submitted the plans?

Yes

You state that the remainder of the money is payable when the plans are passed (you mention possibly in a few months). Is there any possibility that when we want to proceed to get the plans passed they may be rejected or planning consent denied? Or do you mean that at the time the plans are submitted, we are granted interim approval and the final approval is assured?

The application is to get a protocol number saying that you have registered plans to build. This is enough to cover you for any new law change. Your plans will not be rejected or planning consent withdrawn up to this stage. In order to get a protocol number you have to submit full plans to the department. Once they are lodged with this department you can make changes to the plans and re-submit the changes without having to start the whole process over again. They will not give full permission though until the final payment is made(6500 euro). You need the full permission in order to be able to build.

My partner and I both feel that once the plans are submitted, we would obviously be happier if we get final approval as soon as is practicable.  We were due to come and do all this with you in June.  Will June be too late to come and finalise the plans and proceed to final approval – or do you think we should come over sooner (preferably once the direct flights to Crete have started again)

At the moment , we are told you are ok in June. If/when the law change comes in they usually give a 6 month time limit for everybody to complete plans already lodged with them. This means we can submit basic plans and designs (the size of house is the most important at this point as you won’t be able to change it. Once submitted you can work in more detail your internal floor plans etc which means you don’t have to panic about the internal layouts now. We can submit the plans for a 150+/- m2 house now and then over the next few months you can work it through a little better. Plans for a swimming pool can be submitted later at additional cost.

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Wisdom from a viral joke email sent to me. I did not write it and do not claim any originality.

It is a slow day in a little Greek Village. The rain is beating down and the streets are deserted. Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.

On this particular day a rich German tourist is driving through the village, stops at the local hotel and lays a 100 Euro note on the desk, telling the hotel owner he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night. The owner gives him some keys and, as soon as the visitor has walked upstairs, the hotelier grabs the 100 Euro note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.

The butcher takes the 100 Euro note and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer. The pig farmer takes the 100 Euro note and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed and fuel.

The guy at the Farmers’ Co-op takes the 100 Euro note and runs to pay his drinks bill at the taverna. The publican slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer him “services” on credit.

The hooker then rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill to the hotel owner with the 100 Euro note. The hotel proprietor then places the 100 Euro note back on the counter so the rich traveller will not suspect anything.

At that moment, the traveller comes down the stairs, picks up the 100 Euro note, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.

No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole village is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.

This is how the “Greek Bailout Package works”!

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On Sunday 11 September 2011 a new additional property tax was announced by Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, in Thessaloniki Greece

The property tax will range from €0.50 cents to €10.00 per square meter (averaging at about €4 per square meter), depending on the type of area the property is in. It will be in effect for a period of two years and will be collected in instalments through electricity bills.

Further information will follow…

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This update kindly provided by Maria Rizopulu, solicitor, Skopelos Greece

An older tax regulation which applies to foreign owners of property in Greece has been “revived”.  Owners of Greek property living abroad  are now obliged to file annual income tax returns.

The I.R.O (Internal Revenue Office) assumes the income you need to prove to maintain your property. (calculations according to square meters of property), the pool and the car you own, there is also a yearly income amount that is assumed you will need to support yourselves in Greece (whether you have been to Greece or not throughout the year)  The amount is 3,000 euros for unmarried owners and 5,000 euros for married couples (if the property is in both names). These amounts are added to your total annual tax bill. For this additional assumed amount you need to pay extra tax of euro 230 for unmarried owners or, euro 380 for married owners.

Proof must be attached to your tax return that you have imported into Greece the relevant amount during last year by transfer from a non-Greek bank to your Greek bank. (Please note that the name on the sending account must match the name on the beneficiary account).

Proof is in the form of the certificates from the Greek bank (called in the past – pink slips). If you don’t have that proof than you will be taxed by 5% as if that amount (assumed income) was really income.

The taxation is 5% – Not 10% ( as previously mentioned) for the amount of euros you are not able to prove importation for (pink slips).

You should ensure that whoever is to make your tax return has plenty of notice. Tax returns can now be filed electronically and individual code numbers have to be issued.

Tax returns for foreigners are filed during May and any “pink slips” should reach your tax representative by mid April at the latest

An additional (approx.) 53% of the tax is charged as advance payment for the next year which can be returned if you have the necessary pink slips to prove and cover the amount to you would need to import.

If you do not pay this tax then you will be fined and if you owe more than 5000 euro you could e sent to prision.

To explain

Property owners in Greece are now charged ‘a living expense tax’ of  euro 3000 if you are a single person and euro 3000 for each single owner of the same property. So, if there is 3 single owners of one property you are charged euro 15000. It is euro 5000 if you are a married couple.

You are then charged tax for each square meter of property you own. The pool and type of car you own are also calculated taxed accordingly. (Please see the culculation  table below.)

Before you panic, you do not have to pay euro 3000 or, euro 5000 and then for each added square meter of property per year.  YOU ONLY HAVE TO PAY 5% of the entire culculated final amount.

For example it is: 230 or 380 euros for assumed income to support yourselves in Greece  and then,  5% of each square meter of property. If you own a car and pool, It is 5% for type of car and pool.

Property owners only pay tax on the on the amount they cannot prove they have imported into Greece. So if your final tax amount is culculated at 6000 euro per year and you have not imported any euros. Your tax bill is 300 euro. If you have imported  2000 euro your tax bill for the year will be 5% of the remaining 4000 euro (euro 200 to pay). If you can prove import for the full amount then you pay zero tax that year.

How do you import your euros into Greece?
You can transfer your money directly into your Greek bank account
You can withdraw money from your UK GBP from a cash machine in Greece.
BEWARE: IF FOR EXAMPLE, YOUR ACCOUNT IS WITH THE NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE YOU CAN ONLY WITHDRAW MONEY FROM A NATIONAL BANK OF GREECE CASH MACHINE – THE CASH MACHINE MUST MATCH THE BANK YOUR ACCOUNT WITH. YOU MUST KEEP THE SLIP THAT COMES OUT OF THE MACHINE.

Take your cash machine slips to the bank with your bank book and ask them for pink slips. Remember to ask for a pink slip for all the money transfered into your account from abroad. Give your lawyer the pink slips you got from the bank and have your tax return done. More to follow…

Please see the new Greek  property tax laws explaned below:

Houses

the first 80 square meters ———€30 per sq.m.
next 81-120 sq.m ——————–€50 per sq.m.
next 121-200 sq.m——————-€80 per sq.m
next 201-300 sq.m——————-€150 per sq.m.
300 sq.m ——————————€300 per sq m.

Garages/storage rooms and other “assisting” rooms (as in the building permit)           €30 per sq. m.

All above stated amounts have a 20% levy if they are independent private houses (not apartments) as it is the usual thing for foreigners.

If the house is a secondary house for you (not main residence) the above amounts are reduced to ½. This applies only if you declare residency abroad and not in  Greece.

Cars

Cars up to 1,200 cc ————— €3,000
1,200-2,000 cc ——————— €300 per 100 cc
2,000 c———————————€500 per 100 cc

The amount is reduced depending on how old the car is:

30% for over 5 years to 10 years old
50% for over 10 years old

Pools

External: up to 60 sq.m. ————-€60 per sq.m.
over 60 sq.m. ————————–€200 per sq.m.

Internal pool: —————————The amount is doubled

Please see an example below:

A house of 110 sq. m. with an external pool of 30 sq.m.

House
The first 80 sq. m. at €30 per sq.m. —————— €2,400
The next 30 sq. m. at €50 per sq.m. —————– €1,500

Subtotal: —————————————————– €3,900
Plus 20% levy: ——————————————— €780
Subtotal: —————————————————–€4,680
Less 50% “second house” allowance, leaves — €2,340

Pool
30 sq. m. at €60 per sq.m. —————————– €1,800

Yearly assumed income to support yourselves in Greece

—————————————————— €3,000 0r €5,000

Total: ——————————————– €7,140 or 9,140

This is the amount you must demonstrate you have imported during the tax year to pay zero tax.
If you have only imported €3,671 (for example) you must pay 5% of the balance

For a single owner – Total to pay: €173,45
For a married couple – Total to pay: €273,45

For multiple single owners – Amounts are multiplied by number of owners.

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This article is brought to you by holidaylettings

The Performing Rights Society for Music updates licensing rules

The Performing Rights Society for Music updates licensing rules. The music licensing body Performing Rights Society (PRS) has updated its licence regulations for holiday home owners whose businesses are defined as small B&Bs and single self-catering units.

Prior to the changes, PRS for Music charged for music played in hotels and other holiday accommodation. But the new rules mean PRS will not charge a licence fee for background music – including TV and radio – played in some holiday accommodation businesses.

Businesses must meet all the criteria. A property must have three guest bedrooms or fewer; it must be the sole business operated or owned by the proprietors; the property must otherwise be the domestic residence of the owners; the holiday home will not be licensed for the sale of alcohol; finally, any guest facilities will only be available to residents.

The policy also applies to single self-catering units with three bedrooms or fewer where this is the only self-catering unit owned by the proprietors.

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News letter from Glossa Houses

Hello from Glossa, Skopelos

Whilst much of Europe and North America is in the grip of a cold winter, here on Skopelos the first signs of spring are visible. The wild anemones are putting out their pastel petals in the olive groves, the anthemis daisies are brightening up the footpaths and the sulphur-yellow Bermuda Buttercups shine above their astonishingly bright green trefoil leaves.

Between now and the end of March, there will be plenty of rain to keep our island green and perhaps even a touch of snow, but once the year has turned, the seasons turn too. By early February the spectacular display of the almond blossom will be starting. But some quieter advance guards are on the march. The scented flowers of the Mousmoulia (Loquat) tree appear before Christmas and many of the fruit-laden orange and lemon trees also have blossom in time to welcome the New Year.

Inevitably, perhaps, our first visitors of 2011 will be walkers. We have expanded our popular set of picture walking maps which were extensively road tested (and off-road tested) last season. Our guests find a spring walking break in Glossa can really shorten the winter and the amazing display of spring flowers can certainly lighten your step.

On a related subject, the island has a new mayor, Giorgos Michaelis. He seems to be very forward-thinking and has a particular interest in promoting the use of Skopelos’s forests – almost unique in the Greek islands – for trekking and sustainable traditional agriculture, both firmly linked to quality tourism. So our walking picture maps will doubtless support this enterprise, and come into wider use. But there are still going to be secluded forest paths and quiet beaches for many years to come!

As you may know, Therese and Iannis gave up the Astarti Café, by the school, at the end of the summer. (Their daughter Machi has had her baby – a little girl called Joanna).  The other good news is that a local young couple have taken on the Café and are planning to offer pizzas and speciality Greek dishes. We expect it to be open well in time for Easter, which this year is the same date in the Western and the Orthodox calendars.

Best wishes from Glossa in Skopelos

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This report is brought to you by Ian Daly at Exel Currencies

If you strip away the political correctness, Chapter Three of the IMF’s World Economic Outlook more or less condemns Southern Europe to death by slow suffocation and leaves little doubt that fiscal tightening will trap North Europe, Britain and America in slump for a long time. The IMF report “Will It Hurt? It argues that austerity will do more damage than so far admitted. Normally, tightening of 1pc of GDP in one country leads to a 0.5pc loss of growth after two years. It is another story when half the globe is in trouble and tightening in lockstep.

The lesson of the 1930s is that politics can turn ugly as slumps drag into a third year, and voters lose faith in the promised recovery. Unemployment is already 20pc in Spain. If Mrs Salgado is wrong, Spanish society will face a stress test. We are seeing a pattern, first in Ireland, now in Greece and Portugal where cuts are failing to close the deficit as fast as hoped. Austerity itself is eroding tax revenues. Countries are chasing their own tail.

The rest of EMU is not going to help. France and Italy are cutting 1.6pc GDP next year. The German squeeze starts in earnest in 2011. Given the risks, you would expect the ECB to stand by with monetary stimulus. But no, while the central banks of the US, the UK, and Japan are worried enough to mull a fresh blast of money, Frankfurt is talking up its exit strategy. It risks repeating the error of July 2008 when it raised rates in the teeth of the crisis.

The ECB is winding down its lending facilities for the Euro zone banks, regardless of the danger for Spanish, Portuguese, Irish, and Greek banks that have borrowed €362bn, or the danger for their governments. These banks have used the money to buy state bonds, playing the internal “carry trade” for extra yield. In other words, the ECB is chipping at the prop that holds up Southern Europe.

What does this mean to you?

Its still early days to tell how this can pan out as most analysts are stating that as soon as the cuts come in it could spark more social unrest and any losses that were seeing now in the GBP – EUR should be eradicated when the cuts come in throughout Europe in the new year. However the talk of QE is starting to spread like wild fire from the US to the UK and our worst fears might just come through.

Anyone looking to buy Euros recently would have held there breath at around 12 mid-day on Thursday as the BoE announced whether or not they would continue the Quantitative Easing programme. However to everyone’s relief the BoE kept everything on hold for at least another month and after the release of this the markets took a positive look at the UK and Sterling began to gain against a basket of major currencies. Until the UK sees consistent growth it will be a nervous start for the next few months.

Outlook

Sterling has being pinned down by the Euro this week and any negative news released from the Euro zone has had little effect even after the down grade of Irish Bank AIB. It was strange to see the pound so week against the Euro this week because of some unexpected encouraging figures from the UK’s construction and services industry along with industrial and manufacturing figures.

The only conclusion most analysts have come to is that the talk of QE from the UK has put everyone on high alert and what looks like a perfect week for the UK on paper has not materialised. While the current rate of around €1.14 is far from the best we have seen this year, after seeing what QE has done to the pound last year, €1.14 actually looks like a good price at the moment. Anyone looking to buy Euros within the next 3 months might want to consider a forward contact to secure the rate or what most of my clients are doing is half cost averaging. (Half now and half later).

This weeks case study

This week we had Stephanie and Edward Stevenson as they had to start making payments for there property if they want to move in before their Christmas deadline. What I suggested they do this week was half now and half again next month before the next interest rate decision as the talk of QE was holding the pound back against the Euro.

During the week I explained to Stephanie and Edward that the BoE have their interest rate decision on Thursday and with the talk of QE we might see a surprise purchase of another 25billion and that this would see the pound drop drastically. After being asked my personal opinion on it I felt that it was too soon to be continuing QE and at the moment we have only heard of one BoE MPC member talk about adding to the QE programme and that when the minutes are released in a couple of weeks this will give me a good idea of which way the 9 members are leaning. I would then be able to guide you far better to the correct time to trade. So we decided to book early on in the week and secured at €1.1550.

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This report is brought to you by Ian Daly at Exel Currencies

Greece has turned up the heat on the country’s commercial banks by requiring them to boost lending to businesses and households in return for access to a new €25bn liquidity package.

Chief executives from Greece’s biggest lenders agreed on Tuesday to participate in a so-called “liquidity pact” following joint talks with George Papaconstantinou, the finance minister. Mr Papaconstantinou said each bank would sign a separate deal with the government which would be monitored by the country’s central bank, “so that we know these funds are really going to support the Greek economy.”

Greece has signed a preliminary deal with Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund that could clear the way for investments of up to $5 billion in the indebted European country. The memorandum does not commit either side to specific projects, a Greek official, who was not permitted to speak publicly, said. But he said the planned investments would cover tourism, real estate, transport, infrastructure, finance and energy projects.

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Wednesday ruled out additional increases in his nation’s value-added tax, saying the government will find alternative ways to boost revenues. “There has been of course the possibility of (tax in) some products being raised further, but we’re seeing if we can find other ways of getting revenues rather than raising that further,” Papandreou said in an interview with Reuters Insider. Right now, the prime minister added, the government says “No’ to raising the VAT.

Greece will postpone stress testing the country’s banks for later in the autumn, a source at the central bank told Reuters on Monday. “The stress tests will not be done in September,” said a Bank of Greece official who did not want to be named. “

What does this mean to you?

In the long term this will have a positive effect for anyone looking to buy in Greece (see Property in Skopelos) as out side investment can only have a positive out come for Greece. This news if it does come true will make Greece look far more attractive for anyone considering the move over or for the medium to long term investment. However if your looking to buy soon and are sitting on Sterling then you will be sad to hear that the pound has lost momentum again for another consecutive week and over the last couple of days there has being more and more of QE.

To remind everyone of what happened to the pound the last time the UK decided to do Quantitative Easing, it turned out to be the first time we every saw near parity level between the 2 currencies. If looking to sell your Euros back to Sterling its just about as good as it gets but looking to sell Sterling to buy Euros then it might just stop you from making that big move. Earlier this week an MPC member Adam Posen said he thinks the UK should begin QE again to stimulate the economy. These comments instantly drop the Pound/Euro rate by over a cent by close of business that day and big cracks are starting to show in the UK and the road ahead is looking very bumpy.

Outlook

Sterling has continued to be hit by poor figures for another week with the main focus being on the mortgage approvals. Along with Adam Posen’s comments this UK weakness has given traders the excuse to sell the pound and this trend has not stopped. Looking forward to try and find some relief the UK is expecting Consumer confidence figures, Industrial and manufacturing figures along with the all important GDP estimate. Another round of negative data next week may just be the excuse the Bank of England need to continue QE.

This weeks case study

This week we had Mr Subedar who has being trying to sell his property in Spain to buy in England. We had discussed the possibility of doing a forward contract but due to the weak data from the UK we had decided to hold on as we were gaining each day. Mr Subedar sent over the deposit in case we had unexpected data that went in his favour. It was only just a couple of days ago we had a jump in over a cent thanks to the comments from a MPC member and this has favoured Mr Subedar but more importantly I suggested that he holds on as UK outlook was weak and this has turned out to have earned him an extra £3,660. He has now locked in a forward contract at €-£ 0.8658 and when his Spanish property does sell he will not have to worry about where the exchange rate is.

Next week

Next week we will be dealing Stephanie and Edward Stevenson again as they have to start making payments for there property if they want to move in before their Christmas deadline.

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This report is brought to you by Ian Daly at Exel Currencies

Following their visit to Athens from July 26 to August 5 for the first quarterly review of the Greek government’s economic program, staff teams from the, ECB and IMF issued a press release, noting that their overall assessment is that the programme has made a strong start.

BoG released its Financial Stability Report – July 2010, in which among other statistical figures BoG is stressing out that in 2010 credit risk is expected to remain high and also that Greek banks should consider (at the same time) initiatives like alliances and/or mergers to basically try and spread the risk.

The Financial Minister announced that Greece will increase the government guarantees offered on banks which will reach EUR 55bn bringing the entire support plan (including special government bonds and state preference shares) to EUR 68bn or 30% of GDP, still below levels offered by other EU-members in the past.

Greece expects to pass a tax reform bill early March, with a view to boosting revenues from 2011, the country’s finance minister said on Friday. “The big bet of our tax reform is the broadening of the tax base,” Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou told a news conference. His comments came after Fitch and Standard and Poor’s both downgraded the debt-laden country’s rating earlier this month over concerns about its deteriorating finances, sending its bonds and stocks tumbling. “Moody’s will take its decision in the coming weeks,” Papaconstantinou said, adding that Wednesday’s rating downgrade by S&P had been expected.

What does this mean to you?

With a mix of good and bad news this week the GBP – EUR rate has not moved much and has stayed between €1.2003 – €1.2085. There has being added pressure on the pound from the PPI figures which is a break down of the overall GDP figure. The most important of the PPI’s is the Services which accounts for 80%, this saw a drop from 58.4% to 54.1%. If this continues this will most definitely see the pound lose against the Euro.

Outlook

In the short term the pressure is still on the pound and anything over €1.19 is still a reasonable exchange rate. However in the long term the pound should gain but if figures continue to disappoint gradually, the pound will struggle on its next set of GDP figures which some analysts are already predicting to be weaker then the previous quarter. The next set of interesting figures will be the inflation figures and the Minutes of the BoE interest rate decision. If we see more then one member voting for interest rate hike then this could help the pound rally against the Euro but best not to hold your breath for that as the BoE have already shown that they can be slow to move the base interest rate which is currently at 0.50%.

Last weeks case study

Last week we had a Miss Jennifer Steed who has to make her monthly mortgage payment along with bills which comes to €1,695. As this payment is smaller then a typical payment I suggested that Jennifer be put into one of our Group Bookings to achieve a better exchange rate.

What Excel did was group Jennifer’s funds with 15 other clients who were looking to exchange roughly the same amount and in total we ended up buying €25,500. Which meant our bank gave Excel a better exchange rate which we simply passed onto all 15 clients. This meant that instead of getting an exchange rate of €1.1725 we were able to achieve a group rate of €1.1931.

This week

This week we will be continuing to deal with Jennifer as over the next 2 weeks she will need to make a larger payment for building maintenance she’s having done on her property.

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This article is brought to you by holidaylettings

This Article is from August 11 2010

The British Foreign & Commonwealth Office (F&CO) is warning holiday makers to expect regular strikes and demonstrations throughout Greece threatening to bring mayhem during the holiday season.

An urban guerrilla group – the Sect of Revolutionaries – has issued a leaflet threatening to bring mayhem during the holiday season. “Tourists should know that Greece is no longer a safe haven of capitalism,” it said. “We aim to transform it into a war zone of revolutionary processes, with arson, sabotage, fierce demonstrations, bomb attacks, armed killings.”

But, reports TravelMole, the group has not said it will target tourists directly and the F&CO has not altered its travel advice to tourists since the terrorist threat was made public.

“Strikes and demonstrations are sometimes called at short notice and can cause disruption to public transport in and out of Greece – including air travel and ports,” it warns.

The F&CO also warns that there is a possibility of further industrial action by air traffic controllers over the summer months and advises passengers to contact the airline they are travelling with for further information.

On Monday 2 August, a truck and tanker drivers’ strike was called off in Greece. The strike had lasted almost a week and deprived petrol stations of fuel and prompted some tourists to cancel holidays. But, according to the F&CO, petrol stations across Greece are now expected to have fuel.

The protests have been sparked by anger over the unpopular economic austerity measures the ruling socialists have been forced to enact to stave off bankruptcy in Greece.

According to UK director of the Greek National Tourism Organisation, Sofia Panayiotaki, Greece is one of the safest countries in the world. She said she did not believe tourists should be concerned by the latest threats of industrial action or terrorist activity.

“The government acted very quickly last week to bring in the army and private companies to make sure fuel got distributed and there are no shortages of anything now. I have driven from Athens to the north of the country today and everything is fine,” she said.

Sofia Panayiotak also reminded holidaymakers of the government’s recent pledge to compensate any tourists who suffer financial loss due to strikes in Greece. “At the moment we are considering two cases of British tourists who missed their ferries,” she said.

“Anyone else who has a problem caused by strikes can contact the tourist office when they return and we will consider their claim.

Whether you are touring in mainland Greece or visiting one of its beautiful islands, like Skopelos, Greece has enduring appeal as a tourist holiday destination.

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