Everything on the horizon up to 2030
*By Stathis Kousounis
The Ministry of National Economy and Finance has approved the Tourism Sectoral Development Programme as part of the National Development Programme for the 2026–2030 programming period.
The Programme budget amounts to 79 million euros and is divided into 30 million euros for social cohesion and development initiatives, 11 million euros for infrastructure and transport development, 35 million euros for innovation, internationalisation and competitiveness, 2 million euros for digital transformation and artificial intelligence, and 1 million euros for programme support. The preparation of the Sectoral Development Programme followed a comprehensive and coherent methodology, which ensured that the development needs of the tourism sector were aligned with the national strategic objectives. The strategic planning was carried out through systematic meetings and consultations between the relevant departments of the Ministry of Tourism and its political leadership, with the aim of integrating the policy objectives with the needs of the tourism sector.
The assessment of the current situation in the tourism sector focuses on its alignment with the development objectives of the National Development Programme. With regard to innovation, extroversion and competitiveness, it has been found that Greece has a strong, internationally recognised brand, a rich cultural heritage and a strong tradition of hospitality. However, the current situation is characterised by the dominance of the mass tourism model, which entails significant seasonality and an excessive concentration of visitors in specific destinations during the summer months. This raises issues regarding the resilience of infrastructure and carrying capacity. At the same time, the country faces fierce competition from neighbouring countries that offer tourist packages at lower prices.
Regarding Green Development and Civil Protection, the global shift towards sustainable and responsible tourism presents a significant opportunity. Greece boasts a wealth of natural resources and a mild climate that is conducive to activities throughout the year. However, there are shortcomings in the existing infrastructure for the sustainable support of alternative forms of tourism, whilst issues relating to water resources and waste management have been identified. The impacts of the climate crisis (fires, floods) pose a major challenge for the sector.
In the field of Social Development, efforts to enhance the competitiveness of the tourism product are hampered by a shortage of skilled labour and staff in tourism enterprises. The need to diversify the tourism product and spread it geographically and over time is critical. The use of digital tools and the implementation of projects to upgrade infrastructure and develop specialised forms of tourism, such as mountain and spa tourism, represent key opportunities for safeguarding the sector.
The relevant approval decision of the Ministry of National Economy and Finance provides a brief overview of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats facing Greek tourism.
As regards the strengths, mention is made of the internationally recognised and strong holiday destination brand, particularly in the themed product “sun and sea” and its unique and rich cultural and historical heritage, offering a wide range of authentic and experiential activities. The mild weather conditions throughout the year are also highlighted, as they make it ideal for trips and outdoor activities during the off-season months.
The weaknesses include the dominance of the mass tourism model, which leads to extreme seasonality and adverse environmental and social impacts, the lack of a specialised workforce and staff in tourism businesses, as well as the relatively low proportion of employees with a specialisation in tourism studies. At the same time, the overconcentration of tourism in specific destinations is highlighted, raising concerns about infrastructure resilience and carrying capacity, combined with the lack or unsuitability of infrastructure for alternative forms of tourism.
Opportunities include the shift towards sustainable, green tourism and the selection of destinations and businesses that embrace the circular economy; the growing trend towards integrated, personalised and authentic experiences; as well as the integration of new digital technologies and the use of available resources to upgrade existing tourism infrastructure and create new infrastructure, with the aim of reducing seasonality.
Threats include the climate crisis, which leads to a lack of stable weather conditions and the increasingly frequent occurrence of extreme weather events (e.g. floods, fires), and strong competition from neighbouring and emerging countries that keep the prices of holiday packages low (e.g. Turkey, Albania). In addition, the worsening of overtourism, particularly in specific destinations, is highlighted, resulting in a deterioration of the visitor experience and pressure on natural resources.
Source: travel.gr