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Announcement of the Operation of Tourist Offices

Basic information

Institutional Body

MINISTRY OF TOURISM

Description

The procedure concerns the submission of a request for an announcement of the operation of tourist agencies; it is addressed to natural persons, legal persons and businesses.

At a glance

Points of ServicePoints of Single Contact (ΚΕΠ – EKE), Regional Tourism Services, Department of Tourism Enterprises and Professionals of the relevant Regional Tourism Service.
Number of Documents0
Cost307.2 + (5,000) €
Deadline of Implementation15 days
Process Diagram

Conditions

Establishment of a business (individual, corporate) *For a business establishment see the link below. Natural persons, nationals of third countries and legal entities having their registered office in third countries have the right to operate a travel agency, provided that they have a special power of attorney in Greece. The above right shall be recognised provided that, in accordance with the legislation of of the State of their nationality or place of business, the same right shall be recognised for Greek citizens and for companies having their registered office in Greece.
Related link
https://www.gov.gr/ipiresies/epikheirematike-drasterioteta/enarxe-kai-luse-epikheireses/sustase-epikheireses

The person interested must not have been irrevocably convicted of a felony or one of the misdemeanours including theft, embezzlement, fraud, extortion, forgery, counterfeiting, aggravated assault, drug offences or offences relating to public morals.

The person interested (natural and legal person) must not have been declared bankrupt.

The person concerned should submit a title of ownership or a lease or concession of use, showing that the operator has a writing establishment; where the tourist office operates online, the person concerned should have a office, which should be notified to the competent Tax Office and the relevant Regional Tourism Service and the supporting documents provided for.

Deposit of a guarantee letter in favour of the State by financial institutions established in Greece or another EU Member State.

In case the tourist office operates online, the person concerned must have a special installation.

Fees / Imposts

  • Tourist Offices. Administrative fee of three hundred (300) euros with the code ALE 1450189001 in favour of the Greek State, plus 2%, tax stamp fee’ with the code: 1110489001 and 0.4% ‘additional 20% tax stamp fee’ with the code: 1110403001, payable to any Tax Office. Alternatively, the version of the error can be terminated via the online e-paravolo platform, using the interested partys unique code for Taxisnet, in the administrative fee code: 5713. After it is issued, the amount of money for the offence is payable either to the cash of a bank branch or via electronic banking services (web-banking).
    Fee code
    5713
    Payment type
    Bank cashierDigital (debit / credit card)Digital (web banking)Hellenic Post
    Type
    e-Administrative Fee
    Fee link
    https://www1.gsis.gr/sgsisapps/eparavolo/public/welcome.htm

  • With the code ALE 1110489001 plus 2% of the amount under the heading ‘Other tax stamp fees’
    Payment type
    Tax Office cashier
    Type
    Stamp Duty

  • With the code ALE 1110403001 plus 0.4% of the amount under the heading ‘additional 20% on tax stamp fee’
    Payment type
    Tax Office cashier
    Type
    Stamp Duty

  • Letter of guarantee. In the payment method add «Subsidies and Loans Fund»
    Payment type
    Bank cashierInsurance Companies
    Type
    Letter of guarantee

What you will need

Identification and signature verification means
Identification document, Identification with TAXISnet codes

  • Application – Solemn Declaration of the person interested.
    Filed by
    Submitted by the applicant (digital), Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
    Note
    Legally operating tourist offices may establish branches throughout the Greek territory. For their legal operation, a Certificate of Subsidy for Legal Conditions is required, which is issued by the relevant Regional Tourism Service of the Ministry of Tourism, following the submission of relevant documents, as described in Article 6 of Law 393/1976 (A 199). In case of organisation of holiday packages, an insurance policy (professional liability insurance) is required, stating the number of the insurance policy and the name of the insurance company. This insurance policy must be lodged with the relevant Regional Tourism Service.
    Applicant status
    Legal entities, Persons
Ministry of Digital Governance LogoEUGO LogoGovGR Logo
Announcement of the Operation of Tourist Offices
What you will need
1Title deeds or a lease or concession agreement, unless the tourist office operates via the internet.Property titles
Filed by
Submitted by the applicant (digital)Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Applicant status
Legal entitiesPersons
Notes
Title deeds or a lease or concession agreement stating that the operator has an office, unless the tourist office operates online. According to Article 4(5) of Law 393/1976 (A 199) it is permitted to operate tourist agencies that can provide only via the internet the services provided for in paragraph 2 of Article 1 of that Law. These tourist offices are required to contain the term “Electronic Services” (e-service). For the provision of a certificate of assistance to the legitimate conditions for the operation of the tourist office, a office is required to exist. In the event of a conversion of an existing tourist office into a tourist office which provides only via the internet, and vice versa, a new certification is issued.
2An extract of the criminal record of general use, issued within the last three months, or equivalent document, if the applicant is a national of another EU Member State.Criminal Record Copy for General Use
Filed by
Ex officio (digital)Submitted by the applicant (digital)Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Applicant status
Legal entitiesPersons
Notes
An extract of the criminal record of general use, issued within the last three months, or an equivalent document, if the applicant is a national of another EU Member State, "which shows that the applicant has not been convicted of a felony or one of the misdemeanours: theft, embezzlement, fraud, extortion, forgery, counterfeiting, aggravated assault, drug offences or offences relating to public morals. In the event of the expiry of the letter of guarantee without another letter of guarantee of at least five years validity, the Certificate of Existence of Legal Requirements shall be removed by decision of the Head of the relevant Regional Tourism Service of the Ministry of Tourism.
3Single Certificate of Jurisdiction or any equivalent document if the applicant (natural or legal person) has the nationality of another Member State of the EU.Certification
Filed by
Submitted by the applicant (digital)Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Applicant status
Legal entitiesPersons
Notes
This supporting document shall be submitted to the relevant Regional Tourism Service of the Ministry of Tourism every five years. If it is not submitted, the Certificate of Existence of Legal Requirements shall be removed by decision of the Head of the relevant Regional Tourism Service of the Ministry of Tourism.
4A letter of guarantee of 5,000 €, issued in favour of Greek State or equivalent guarantee reserves, issued by the Deposit and Loans Fund.Letter of guarantee
Filed by
Submitted by the applicant (digital)Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Applicant status
Legal entitiesPersons
Notes
The letter of guarantee, amounting to five thousand (5,000) euros, is issued in favour of the Greek State by financial institutions established in Greece or in another EU Member State and by insurance companies established in Greece. In addition, the interested party may also deposit equal guarantee deposits, which are issued by the Deposits and Loans Fund, in accordance with Article 17 of Law 3646/1928 (Α’ 154). The letter of guarantee from financial institutions and insurance companies, which has a duration of at least five years, states that its validity is automatically extended for a further six months after the date of revocation of the Certificate of Existence of Legal Conditions for any reason whatsoever and also if no other letter of guarantee of at least five years validity is deposited before its expiry. The letter of guarantee shall be forfeited in favour of the Greek State by decision of the Head of the relevant Regional Tourism Service, to cover any consumer claims arising from their transactions with the tourist office. Before the decision to forfeit the letter of guarantee is issued, the Head of the relevant Regional Tourism Service of the Ministry of Tourism invites the company, within a period of not less than one (1) month, to settle the financial claims notified against it and proven by official evidence. The above time limit may be extended for one (1) additional month by decision of the Head of the Regional Tourism Service. If the time limit expires without effect, the relevant forfeiture act is issued without further notice to the person concerned. The reimbursement to the beneficiary of the product of the forfeited letter of guarantee in favour of the Greek State is made upon submission of a final court decision. If there is more than one beneficiary and the amount of the letter of guarantee does not cover all the claims, it shall be paid to the beneficiaries in equal shares. The decision to forfeit the letter of guarantee in whole or in part shall require the undertaking concerned to make good the full amount of the letter of guarantee within a time limit of fifteen (15) days from the date of notification of the above decision. If the above time limit has elapsed without effect, if the undertaking fully reimburses the amount of the letter of guarantee within three (3) months of the decision to revoke it, the Certificate of Existence of Legal Requirements shall be reissued without further procedure. Otherwise, the procedure for issuing a new Letter of Credit shall be followed. In the event that the letter of guarantee expires without another letter of guarantee of at least five years validity having been submitted, the Certificate of Existence of Legal Requirements will be withdrawn by decision of the Head of the relevant Regional Tourism Service of the Ministry of Tourism.
5A copy of commencement of a business issued by the relevant Tax Office.Tax certificates
Filed by
Submitted by the applicant (digital)Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Applicant status
Legal entitiesPersons
Notes
It concerns exclusively online tourist offices.
6Legal document on the legal representation of the legal entity.Legal documents from legal entities
Filed by
Submitted by the applicant (digital)Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Applicant status
Legal entities
7The companys statutes and any amendments thereto, with their respective FEKs of publication.Legal documents from legal entities
Filed by
Submitted by the applicant (digital)Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Applicant status
Legal entities
8Certificate of Corporate Changes, issued for Limited Liability Companies, General Partnerships, Limited Partnerships, Public Limited Companies, and Private Capital Companies by the competent authority.Certificate of corporate changes
Filed by
Submitted by the applicant (digital)Submitted by the applicant (in person or by post)
Applicant status
Legal entities

Online request

Submit a new application for the selected procedure.

New online request

Legislation

  • Description
    Model tourist destinations of integrated management, destination management and promotion organisations, Greek thermal springs and other arrangements for the promotion of tourism development.
    Legal references
    Link

  • Description
    Thematic Tourism - Special Forms of Tourism - Arrangements for the modernisation of the institutional framework in the field of tourism and tourism education - support for tourism entrepreneurship and other provisions.
    Legal references
    Link

  • Description
    Simplification of procedures for the operation of tourism businesses and tourist infrastructure, special forms of tourism and other provisions. Registration in the Register of Tourism Enterprises
    Legal references
    Link

  • Description
    Hiring of Private Passenger Vehicles (P.P.U.V.) with driver by tourist offices. Amendments: - Law 4582/2018 (A΄ 208) Article 28 - Addition of paragraph 5A (Transport without fare by tourist agencies is allowed). - Law 4254/2014 (Α΄ 85), par. 2 Subpar. F 14 -Amendment of par. 1 subpar. H.2 (Prohibition of fare transportation by tourist agencies), par. 2 Sub. F 14 - Amendment to point (a), par. 3, subpar H.2 (Capacity of tourist agencies to hire of Private Passenger Vehicles with a driver).
    Legal references
    Link

  • Description
    Responsibilities of the Ministry of Tourism Development and tourism issues
    Legal references
    Link

  • Description
    On the Establishment and Operation of Tourist Offices. Amendments: - Law 4549/2018 (A΄ 105) Section H Article 44 - Amendment of Article 1 of Law No. 393/1976 (Operation) - Law 4582/2018 (A208), Article 25 - Addition of paragraph (3) to Article 393/1976 (Tourist offices of third countries), art. 24 - Amendment of par. 2 art. 1 of Law 393/1976 (Operation), art. 26 - Addition of par. 5 of art. 4 of Law 393/1976 (Internet tourist office), par. 1 art. 27 - Addition of par. 1 art. 6 of Law 393/1976 (Scope of activity), par. 2 of art. 27 - Addition of par. 1 of art. 11 of Law 393/1976 (Fine), art. 24 - Amendment of par. 2 Article 1 (Operation) - Law 4403/2016 (A 125) art. 29 - Amendment of sect. d of par. 1 art. 4 of Law 393/1976 (Title deeds - Enumeration of documents) - Joint Ministerial Decision 16016/2012 (B΄ 3055) article 1 - Amendment of subpar. b, c and d of par. 1 art. 3 of Law 393/1976 (Procedure) - Joint Ministerial Decision 15408/2012 (B΄ 2991) Article 2 - Amendment of subpar. (d) of par. 1 art. 4 of Law 393/1976 (Title deeds), par. 4 no. 3 - Amendment of par. 1 art. 5 of Law 393/1976 (Letter of guarantee), art. 1 - Amendment of art. 3 of Law 393/1976 (Granting of operating licence) - Joint Ministerial Decision 14737/2011 (B 2607), par. 4 - Amendment of art. 5 of Law 393/1976 (Guarantees), par. 5 - Amendment of par. 3 art. 6 of Law 393/1976 (Designation of the competent implementing body) - Joint Ministerial Decision 1597/2011 (B 108), par. 3 art. 3 - Amendment of par. 4 art. 4 of Law 393/1976 (Issuance of Special Sign of Operation), par. 4 art. 3 - Amendment of art. 5 of Law 393/1976 Guarantees), par.1 art. 3 of Law 393/1976 (Operation - Issuing of Tickets) - Law 3105/2003 (A 29) par.4 art. 52 - Amendment of par.3 of art. 11 of Law 393/1976 (Right and procedure for appeals) - P.D. 288/1991 (A΄ 102) Article 3 - Amendment of par.4 of art. 4 of Law 393/1976 (Issuance of the Special Sign of Oepration).
    Legal references
    Link

  • Description
    Organisation of the Ministry of Tourism - Competence of the Regional Tourism Service. Amendment: - Law 4506/2017 (A 191) par. 2 of art. 5 - Amendment of subpar. a of par. 2 of Article 20 of the PD 127/2017.
    Legal references
    Link

  • Description
    Amendment of Joint Decision No 1597/28-01-2011 of the Ministers of Administrative Reform and Electronic Governance, Finance, Labour and Social Security and Culture and of Tourism "Adaptation to the provisions of Directive 2006/123/EC" (FEK B108) as in force. Incorporation of the procedure for the operation of tourist offices at the Points of Single Contact (EKE). Amendment: - Joint Ministerial Decision 16016/2012 (FEK 3055/2012) art. 2 - Amendment Annex I to the Joint Ministerial Decision 15408/2012 (B 2991)
    Legal references
    Link

  • Description
    Integration of the procedure for the operation of tourist offices at the Points of Single Contact (E.K.E.).
    Legal references
    Link

About

Process code
337579
NACE code
79.1
Description of NACE code
Travel agency and tour operator activities

If no reply is received within the 15-day period, the application of the interested party is deemed to have been tacitly accepted (tacit approval) and the permit has been issued, in accordance with par. 4 of article 14 of Law 3844/2010 (Government Gazette 63/A/2010). The applicant, in the aforementioned case of implicit approval, may request a certificate from the administrative authority responsible for issuing the act, in accordance with paragraph 4 of Article 10 of Law 3230/2004 (Government Gazette 44/A/2004).

Other Information

Languages supported
English

ID: 337579

Name: Announcement of the Operation of Tourist Offices

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