Tourism could create more jobs, study argues

Employment in Greece owes a lot to tourism, and the potential is there for an even greater contribution to the labor market, according to a study by the Labor Institute of the General Confederation of Greek Labor (INE/GSEE).

The study, titled "Tourism and Growth: Main Figures, Sector Interconnections, Agricultural and Food System," showed that tourism's direct contribution to employment (through accommodation, transport, food service etc) amounts to 15.5 percent of the entire economy, while its total contribution (incorporating sectors that benefit from tourism such as retailing, food industry etc) reaches up to 33-39 percent.

Still, the INE/GSEE study records tourism's inability to keep the jobless rate in resort areas below the national average, or even to reduce unemployment when tourism peaks. This is despite the dynamic increase in arrivals after 2012.

The...