[Stelios Misinas/ Reuters]
As travel receipts from tourism increase, state revenues are also expanding, not only from business taxation and VAT, but also from fees imposed on tourism activities, such as the climate resilience fee and the cruise passenger fee.
In the period from July 21, when the implementation of the cruise measure began, until October 21, state revenues amounted to €31 million, according to data from the Ministry of Shipping and Island Policy. It is estimated that by the end of the year it will exceed €40 million.Â
Moreover, state revenue from the climate resilience fee paid per night over the eight-month period is estimated to be close to €300 million. According to data from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue, in the year to end-July these receipts amounted to almost €200 million. In July alone, one of the two peak months, revenue from the resilience fee amounted to €86.94 million, while corresponding revenues are expected for August. Together with September, it is estimated to exceed €300 million.
Both the climate resilience fee and the cruise fee have been established with return clauses to local communities through investments in infrastructure and other categories. However, the allocation of the funds collected in 2024, which amounted to close to €370 million, remains unclear. It is noted that in 2024 the resilience fee was lower and was increased following a relevant government decision from the beginning of 2025. The cruise passenger fee began this year, after mid-July. Overall, however, it is estimated that the two fees for 2024 and 2025 will bring in revenue approaching €1 billion.
This is a result of the dynamics of Greek tourism which, according to data from the Bank of Greece, remained undiminished during the first eight months of 2025. In January-August this year travel receipts increased by €1.787 billion or 12% year-on-year, and amounted to €16.712 billion.
The increase in travel receipts came from the growth in incoming travel traffic by 4.1% and the average expenditure per trip by 7.2%. Receipts from Germany rose 6.6% to €2.637 billion, while receipts from France increased 5.5% to €1.023 billion. Italy’s also grew 1.4% to €984.3 million. Receipts from the United Kingdom expanded by 8.7% to €2.485 billion, while receipts from the US advanced 20.6%.Â