Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-10-04

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] President Pavlopoulos receives CPC Central Committee member Liu Yunshan

[02] PM Tsipras meets with CPC Central Committee member Liu Yunshan

[03] Greece to lower minimum transaction limit for tax free purchases

[04] Passenger traffic in Athens airport up 14.6 pct in Sept

[05] Greek tourism industry hit by taxation, Louis Hotels CEO says

[01] President Pavlopoulos receives CPC Central Committee member Liu Yunshan

Their meeting focused on the excellent relation between Greece and China, two countries that represent two very ancient civilisations that have highly contributed in the global cultural heritage. Pavlopoulos noted that even today they can defend the three main principles of that necessary in order humanity to proceed and these principles are peace, democracy and justice.

On his part, Yunshan underlined that the main aim of his visit is the implementation of the joint agreements and the promotion of the overall strategic and partnership relation between China and Greece, particularly in the field of cultural exchanges between the two countries.

[02] PM Tsipras meets with CPC Central Committee member Liu Yunshan

In their brief dialogue before the meeting Tsipras welcomed Liu Yunshan to Greece noting that it comes after his visit to Beijing which, as he said "marks a new era in the relations between the two countries in their strategic cooperation. A cooperation that covers the sectors of transport, energy and culture in which we must be very effective and specific and take further steps".

On his part, Liu Yunshan referred to the very good meeting he had with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos earlier on Tuesday adding that "the President is very interested in the cultural exchanges between our countries and for this reason I believe that my visit will promote the further enhancement of the overall strategic - partnership relation between Greece and China".

Referring to his first meeting with Tsipras who hosted a dinner in his honour on Monday evening, Liu Yunshan said "yesterday night was our first meeting and I really felt as an old friend, you are a reliable and good friend of us".

[03] Greece to lower minimum transaction limit for tax free purchases

Addressing an event at the Piraeus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, organized by the directorate general of Customs, Pitsilis said that a new Customs Code -to be implemented fully in 2020- will meet the needs of modern international commerce and economic factors related with this activity, such as speed and simplified procedures, reducing and better focusing on controls, more active participation of all related agencies in procedures, reducing customs costs and guarantees. "All these are part of a wider redesigning of the goals and work of Public Revenue agency, which will be fully independent from early next year," Pitsilis said.

[04] Passenger traffic in Athens airport up 14.6 pct in Sept

Domestic passenger traffic grew 14 pct and international passenger traffic rose 15 pct in September, while Greek and foreign travelers rose by 17 pct and 15 pct, respectively.

In the January-September period, passenger traffic amounted to 15.6 million, up 10.2 pct from the same period last year. Both domestic and international traffic grew in the nine-month period, by 12.4 pct and 8.9 pct, respectively, while Greek and foreign travelers rose by 15 pct and 8.0 pct, respectively.

The number of scheduled flights in the Athens International Airport amounted to 148,815 in the January-September period, up 8.1 pct from the same period last year. Both domestic and international flights grew in that period, by 7.9 pct and 8.2 pct, respectively.

[05] Greek tourism industry hit by taxation, Louis Hotels CEO says

In an interview, Perdios noted that high taxation combined with high social insurance contributions and constant changes in tax legislation were the basic factors of discouraging would-be investors to build new hotels in the country, creating new job positions.

Perdios, CEO in one of the largest hotel groups in Cyprus and Greece, operating 21 hotels (12 in Cyprus and 9 in Greece), said that when a businessman decided to make an investment based on bank borrowing, drafts a 15-year sustainability plan, but with constant changes on tax legislation this plan is annulled.

"How is it possible the state to come and punish tourism with a 24 pct VAT on restaurant services and 13 pct on overnight stay when these rates in other countries are between 5.0-9.0 pct?" Perdios said, adding that Greece has the global originality of imposing taxes on national products, such as wine and ouzo. "You buy ouzo at 2.65 euros per two litres from the supplier and you pay 12.35 euros, of which 9.70 euros goes to state coffers as tax. You punish your country in multiple ways. First, the producer, secondly the consumer and third your own country that goes out of competition," he said.

He said that labour cost in Greece was very high as social insurance cost reached 41 pct when in Cyprus it was 19 pct. "All these are incentives for undeclared labour. In Greece, unfortunately, only large enterprises and group of companies pay the bill at a huge cost for their businesses which deprived them of the ability to move forward with larger investments," he noted.

Perdios said that high corporate taxes (currently at 29 pct) was another wound and stressed: "Are all these incentives for anyone to invest in tourism in Greece?" he asked.

He noted, however, that the outlook for bookings in 2017 is positive for Greece and Cyprus, as the two countries are considered safe destinations.

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