Along with the preliminary announcement of the action "Strengthening the establishment and operation of new small and medium enterprises," which pertains to all economic activities outside of Tourism, the corresponding initiative for this specific sector has also been announced.

Purpose

The action "Strengthening the Establishment and Operation of New Tourism Enterprises" aims to enhance entrepreneurship in the Tourism sector through the creation of new very small, small, and medium enterprises in selected tourism activity codes (KAD). The budget for the action amounts to €160,000,000 and will be implemented using resources from the "Competitiveness" program of the NSRF 2021 – 2027. The announcement of the call for proposals and the start of applications is expected soon.

Eligible Beneficiaries

In this action, applications for funding may be submitted by under-construction and newly established medium, small, and very small enterprises that are expected to operate in the tourism sector.

In cases where the investment pertains to a tourist accommodation, it must meet specific capacity and specifications. 

Specifically:

MAIN HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

  • Hotels
    • Classification in category 4**** (four stars) and above
    • Capacity of twelve (12) beds and above
  • Hotel tourist accommodations within traditional buildings as stipulated in Presidential Decree 33/1979
  • Organized tourist campsites (camping)
    • Classification in category 3*** (three stars) and above

NON-MAIN HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

    • Self-catering accommodations – furnished tourist residences
      Minimum number of residences: Three (3)
      Note: All self-catering accommodations – furnished tourist residences must be incorporated under the same MHTE license.
    • Furnished rooms – apartments for rent
      • Classification in category 4 keys and above
      • Minimum capacity of twelve (12) beds

Subsidy Amount 

Investment plans submitted under the action can have a minimum budget of €80,000 and a maximum of €400,000.

The grant will amount to 45% of the submitted expenses.

The subsidy percentage may increase by (a) 10% if the investment is made in a remote or fire-affected or flood-affected area or small islands, and (b) an additional 5% upon achieving the employment target of at least 0.2 full-time equivalents (FTE) in the first year after the completion of the investment.

The implementation duration of the investment plans is set at 24 months from the date of the inclusion decision without the possibility of extension.

Basic Participation Requirements

Beneficiaries must:

  • Make an investment exclusively in one Region of the country. Excluded are plans with a location in the Regional Unit of Mykonos and the Regional Unit of Santorini, within the Municipality of Santorini, except for the Municipal Community of Thirasia.
  • Operate exclusively in eligible KAD(s), as defined in the Detailed Call that is expected to be issued, throughout the implementation period of their investment plan. Newly established businesses must only commence operations in eligible KADs of the Action.
  • Provide accurate data and information on the location of the investment on specific property (land, building, or other self-contained space).
  • Hold an approved building permit or at least have submitted an application for its issuance in cases of construction and completion of buildings from the start date of electronic submission, which will be specified in the call.
  • Provide a Land Use Certificate for the above location of the investment.
  • Provide documentation of their rights of use (ownership, usufruct, lease) for the property.
  • Provide evidence of the ability to cover the Private Participation at a percentage that will be specified in the Detailed Call.
  • Meet the conditions of application of Regulation (EU) 1407/2013 (De Minimis) upon which the Action is based.

Eligible Expenditures

Upon inclusion in the action, new enterprises that will be established can be subsidized for the following eligible expenditures:

  1. Buildings, Installations, and Environmental Space
  2. Machinery – Equipment
  3. Digital Equipment and Software
  4. Other Equipment
  5. Start-up assistance (initial operation of SMEs)
  6. Promotion and Export Expenses
  7. Technical Studies
  8. Consulting Services
  9. Transportation means
  10. Indirect expenses (up to 7% of the eligible direct expenses of the investment plan)

The selected eligible activity codes (KAD) will be specified in the Detailed Call of the Action.

The deadline and method for submission, required documentation, beneficiary obligations, and other terms of implementation will be described in the Detailed Call of the Action.

Strengthening the Establishment and Operation of New Tourism Enterprises

10 November 2023

ΙΩΝΙΚΗ Finance

Along with the preliminary announcement of the action "Strengthening the establishment and operation of new small and medium enterprises," which pertains to all economic activities outside of Tourism, the corresponding initiative for this specific sector has also been announced.

Purpose

The action "Strengthening the Establishment and Operation of New Tourism Enterprises" aims to enhance entrepreneurship in the Tourism sector through the creation of new very small, small, and medium enterprises in selected tourism activity codes (KAD). The budget for the action amounts to €160,000,000 and will be implemented using resources from the "Competitiveness" program of the NSRF 2021 – 2027. The announcement of the call for proposals and the start of applications is expected soon.

Eligible Beneficiaries

In this action, applications for funding may be submitted by under-construction and newly established medium, small, and very small enterprises that are expected to operate in the tourism sector.

In cases where the investment pertains to a tourist accommodation, it must meet specific capacity and specifications. 

Specifically:

MAIN HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

  • Hotels
    • Classification in category 4**** (four stars) and above
    • Capacity of twelve (12) beds and above
  • Hotel tourist accommodations within traditional buildings as stipulated in Presidential Decree 33/1979
  • Organized tourist campsites (camping)
    • Classification in category 3*** (three stars) and above

NON-MAIN HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

    • Self-catering accommodations – furnished tourist residences
      Minimum number of residences: Three (3)
      Note: All self-catering accommodations – furnished tourist residences must be incorporated under the same MHTE license.
    • Furnished rooms – apartments for rent
      • Classification in category 4 keys and above
      • Minimum capacity of twelve (12) beds

Subsidy Amount 

Investment plans submitted under the action can have a minimum budget of €80,000 and a maximum of €400,000.

The grant will amount to 45% of the submitted expenses.

The subsidy percentage may increase by (a) 10% if the investment is made in a remote or fire-affected or flood-affected area or small islands, and (b) an additional 5% upon achieving the employment target of at least 0.2 full-time equivalents (FTE) in the first year after the completion of the investment.

The implementation duration of the investment plans is set at 24 months from the date of the inclusion decision without the possibility of extension.

Basic Participation Requirements

Beneficiaries must:

  • Make an investment exclusively in one Region of the country. Excluded are plans with a location in the Regional Unit of Mykonos and the Regional Unit of Santorini, within the Municipality of Santorini, except for the Municipal Community of Thirasia.
  • Operate exclusively in eligible KAD(s), as defined in the Detailed Call that is expected to be issued, throughout the implementation period of their investment plan. Newly established businesses must only commence operations in eligible KADs of the Action.
  • Provide accurate data and information on the location of the investment on specific property (land, building, or other self-contained space).
  • Hold an approved building permit or at least have submitted an application for its issuance in cases of construction and completion of buildings from the start date of electronic submission, which will be specified in the call.
  • Provide a Land Use Certificate for the above location of the investment.
  • Provide documentation of their rights of use (ownership, usufruct, lease) for the property.
  • Provide evidence of the ability to cover the Private Participation at a percentage that will be specified in the Detailed Call.
  • Meet the conditions of application of Regulation (EU) 1407/2013 (De Minimis) upon which the Action is based.

Eligible Expenditures

Upon inclusion in the action, new enterprises that will be established can be subsidized for the following eligible expenditures:

  1. Buildings, Installations, and Environmental Space
  2. Machinery – Equipment
  3. Digital Equipment and Software
  4. Other Equipment
  5. Start-up assistance (initial operation of SMEs)
  6. Promotion and Export Expenses
  7. Technical Studies
  8. Consulting Services
  9. Transportation means
  10. Indirect expenses (up to 7% of the eligible direct expenses of the investment plan)

The selected eligible activity codes (KAD) will be specified in the Detailed Call of the Action.

The deadline and method for submission, required documentation, beneficiary obligations, and other terms of implementation will be described in the Detailed Call of the Action.

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