German travel agencies blackmail Greece

German travel companies began to blackmail Greece with refusal to travel due to the announcement of new taxes on tourists.

In response, the travel agencies that make up the German Travel Association (DRV) protestedwhich was outlined in a letter to the Minister of Tourism of Greece Olga Kefalogianni: if Greece does not abolish these taxes, they threaten to redirect the tourist flow to other destinations.

The letter, signed by association president Norbert Fiebig, begins “peacefully”, with Germany's travel agencies “understanding and supporting the Greek government's sustainability goals such as nature, infrastructure and seasonal balance.” However in essence, the message is an outright blackmail of the Greek authorities with the idea that such sudden changes could cause a serious decrease in the number of tourists from Germany, quotes GreekReporter:

“A new fee for cruise passengers and a significant increase in the climate resilience fee could lead to higher prices. This situation, as in the past, could steer German tourists, who are very price-sensitive, away from Greece towards alternative destinations in the Eastern Mediterranean. The summer season of 2024 was very successful for German tourists; the tourism services of Greece were highly appreciated by German holidaymakers. Greece's tourism infrastructure, quality services and hospitality are the basis of this success, and any steps must be taken carefully so as not to damage this relationship.”

However, it seems that their main interest is to save money themselves. “There must be a transition period for the introduction of new taxes,” German travel firms are calling for “special measures” for already sold holiday packages for 2025. Mr. Fiebig explains:

“German travel agencies will not be able to pass on additional costs for pre-sold holidays to customers and this will create a serious financial burden.”

Now everyone is waiting for Greece to respond to this.

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