ATHENS – A Tourism for All subsidy program making it more affordable for Greeks wracked by inflation and high costs to visit other places in the country in 2022 saw a boost in traffic in those areas.

The program gives lower income Greeks and their families the chance to have nearly a week of subsidized vacations at various destinations across the country to cover part of the costs of accommodation, transport and eating.

It also compensates the owners of tourist places who benefit as well as the arrival of foreign tourists who came in such numbers that it nearly broke a 2019 record during the waning COVID-19 pandemic.

Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said the program showed off  a number of alternate destinations which were then selected as vacation spots by  Greek visitors, even into the winter, noted GTP Headlines.

“Tourism in 2022 developed a strong dynamic that it is expected to continue in 2023 … the extension of the tourism season has been successful and we are continuing our efforts for 12-month tourism in Greece,” he said.

The ministry said that the program lured people mostly to  Central Macedonia, the Peloponnese, Attica and Thessaly and so far in the winter to  Western Greece, Western Macedonia, Thessaly and the North Aegean.

The capital Athens and second-largest city Thessaloniki, in the north, also benefited as did smaller cities and towns include Tolo in the Peloponnese, Ioannina, Edipsos, Thassos, Kalavryta and Kastoria, the report added.

Kikilias said that the program will be extended in 2023 and that applications for another 125,000 digital vouchers will open by the end of January through the special platform available on vouchers.gov.gr.