New tourist tax in Greece… another example of unfair tax

[Chocbuttonsandredwine]

€1.50 per room for 1 and 2 star hotels
€10 per room for 5 star…

WTF.

tourist tax = fine, absolutely on board with, help to fund climate change etc etc…

but why not make it flat across the board… ye again the ones that aren’t rich, work hard, can afford nice things if they save are the ones that are penalised the most

surely climate change is everyone’s equal responsibility?

Agree that there's been a hotel tax in Greece for many years. they've also had a system where Greek nationals pay a lower entrance fee to museum - which seem fair to me.

Seem fair to me.

5 star hotels likely have more facilities that are not environmentally friendly. Also if I’m paying for a five star hotel then I’m pretty sure I can afford €10 it’s hardly a massive amount and I’d happily pay it.

I don’t understand why you think this penalises people who work hard and aren’t rich????

You could surely apply that same logic to a lot of sliding scales like income tax in the U.K.?

You also seem disproportionately angry about this. It’s a bit of a non event really.

Lolling at posters who think this tax is actually anything to do with "Climate Crisis Resilience". That's just what they're calling it now to greenwash what is a basic tourist tax. Nowt to do with towels or pools!

Lol. Just stay in a one star hotel if you don't want to be penalised! Much less impact on the environment, probably!

It it a huge increase, we paid 28euros last Oct, 5 star accommodation, will cost 70euros when we go back in April, same accommodation. Greece may find this will have an impact on tourism.

the ones that aren’t rich, work hard, can afford nice things if they save are the ones that are penalised the most

🎻

That's nearly £36 difference a week... No more rubbing shoulders with the rich and the celebrities for you!

You seem confused about equality vs equity.

We paid £10 per night in a 5* hotel in Venice 7 years ago…

I've had to pay tourist taxes in a few places that I have visited. Can't say it really bothers me as it's just par for the course with going on holiday.

I really don't mind it if it's actually contributing to local welfare/the public purse rather than profiteering.

Was just going to say the same!
This is a pretty useless thread being as this tax has been forceable for 6 years now. It even says in the screenshot you posted OP "which will replace the previous hotel tax." ...it's always been applicable, they've just changed the name!

Honestly, I can't see this having a huge impact on tourists visiting Greece. The story of Summer holidays in the Greek islands has grown exponentially since the 1950's when tourist visitors numbered just 70,000. In 2000 there were 13 million, 24 million in 2015 and 32 million visitors in 2023 with indications that 2024 might surpass this by up to 10% based on booked and allocated flights.

The episodes of over-tourism throughout Europe and beyond, are unlikely to be solved by a 10 euros per day tax.

… ye again the ones that aren’t rich, work hard, can afford nice things if they save are the ones that are penalised the most

How are they being penalised the most?

Anyone staying in any grade of hotel will have the same tax to pay? Surely that's equal.

Are they begging you to come? Forcing you? Stay in the UK if you don't like it.

The accommodation we are staying in during our visit in May is rated 2* (but with wonderful reviews for friendliness and service) as it is very basic. No AC, no TVs in the rooms etc. Basically, tiled floors, simple wooden furniture and a balcony overlooking the village, with a small pool shared between the various apartments. As others have mentioned, I suspect that is far less carbon-hungry than some of the swish hotels with spas, multiple pools (including indoor heated ones), mini bars, TVs, AC etc. :)

I think it is quite fair that it is on a sliding scale (up or down depending on perspective) based on the accommodation booked... This sort of tax has been around for a long time - I recall paying it to stay in a hotel in Bruges 5 or so years ago.

I've paid it the last three times I've stayed in Greece. We prefer smaller family run two or three star places and don't like going to big five star resorts so the tax isn't a huge amount for us. The owners always seem quite apologetic about having to ask for the extra tax at check in.

The place we stayed at last year was three star. The rooms were basic and functional but the pool area and restaurant was more like that of a luxury boutique hotel.

This year we are going two star self catering and the reviews are amazing so we can't wait.

Weirdly we didn't pay it when we booked villas - I assume they are either exempt or the owner pays the tax and just includes it in the nightly rate.

We’re going to Greece this Summer. We knew about the tourist tax because we paid it last time too. It has gone up, but no one has forced me to book a holiday to Greece so it’s just one of those things.

We’ve been paying a tourist tax Menorca for years. That’s a sliding scale too.

Sorry... are you... arguing with paying a tax that literally states right there in your OP... is being put in place as a resilience fund for natural disasters?
So a tax that will pay for rebuilding the country you want to holiday in, pay for medical care and support for the people who live and work there and run the tourist industry you want to frequent?
Tourism contributes towards climate change, climate change is a contributing factor in natural disasters, if countries don't have enough funds ready when these disasters happen, tourism will not be as readily available.
Is this real? You have seen the news after a natural disaster happens, yes? Seen the lives, livelihoods ruined? You resent paying a bit extra for your holiday because you work hard blah blah for things like rescuing children out of collapsed buildings?

Progressive taxes are fairer. Or do you think people on low incomes should pay the same amount of income tax as higher earners?!

ye again the ones that aren’t rich, work hard, can afford nice things if they save are the ones that are penalised the most

Having more money doesn't equate to working harder. I'm fortunate to earn a decent amount, my sister on the other hand works far harder than I but for just above minimum wage. Making it the same across the board may mean she can't go on holiday but it wouldn't affect me at all. Surely that's not fair?

if you can't afford it you can't have it. Like everything else in life.

Plenty of, say, German towns impose a "kur tax" which is similar.

nothing wrong with this. if someone is paying out 500 quid plus per night, another 10 euros is irrelevant. 70 quid extra for a weeks holiday.

places like the Maldives charge 10% GST. which can really add up. but a flat fee of 10 euros is really not bad.

I believe it's under consideration in Wales

Paid tourist taxes before - no issue really.

It’s just part of the cost of the holiday. If the few euro per night difference is important to you then you just need to choose a cheaper hotel.