Tourism needs infrastructure

As Greece prepares to welcome the highest number of foreign visitors in its history this year, around 35 million according to expert estimates, basic public infrastructure remains woefully inadequate.

However, instead of the competent public authorities and agencies speeding up their upgrading procedures, either through privatizations or through public investments, reform fatigue appears to be slowing down even launched tender processes by the state asset utilization fund (TAIPED) and the Hellenic Corporation of Assets and Participations (known as the Superfund).

The 23 regional airports that have remained under the control of the state, as well as ports of international interest, the privatization of which has been launched, remain in an obsolete state.

Other ports, such as those of Naxos or Paros, which now receive many times more passenger traffic - and...