Plan over vouchers for lost holidays in Greece

This week, possibly on Thursday, the Tourism Ministry will pass a legal clause through Parliament allowing tourism enterprises to compensate their clients - individuals and tour operators - who have already made down payments for bookings that cannot be followed through due to restrictions in hotel operation and travel, with the issue of an 18-month open-date voucher.

That issue is of vital significance for tourism companies that are already facing liquidity problems. Albeit understandable, the demand by hotel customers for the return of deposits generates tension between them and the hoteliers.

Obviously the clause may only concern the Greek legal framework, and not the jurisdictions of other states where the down payments may originate, but in any case it offers local tourism corporations a negotiating instrument. Italy and other countries have already passed...