FYI: Higher VAT on several Greek islands.

[De.windhoos]

As you might be aware, Greek islands used to have a lower VAT rate than the mainland. However this is slowly changing.

The following islands will start using mainland VAT rates as of 01-01-18:
Lesvos, Lemnos, Agios Efstratios, Chios, Psara, Oinousses, Samos, Ikaria, Kos, Kalymnos, Nisyros, Patmos, Leros, Symi, Astypalea, Chalki, Kastellorizo and Samothrace.

This means high VAT will go from 17 to 24%

Please note that other islands like Rhodes, Ios, Santorini, etc already have mainland rates.

[yeloya]

Althought not very relevant for cruisers, Greece has also announced new city tax that will be added to hotel rates. For 5 stars hotels, this will be 6 € per night per room band applicable as of January 1st 2018. 4 and 3 stars hotels will pay less.


VAT increase will certainly have more impact on cruisers. The islands in the past not only have paid less, most of them was used to not to pay at all. Since last year the controls are more efficient..


Hope that these measures makes this destination even better for cruisers and bring a prosperity for their people.


Cheers


Yeloya.