ATHENS – Main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras on Friday accused the government of lacking a plan to address the problem of the tourism sector at a video conference with representatives of workers in tourism.

Tsipras repeated SYRIZA's proposals for a 3.0-billion-euro non-repayable support package for enterprises, reduced VAT, a benefits policy for SMEs and a support package through state-subsidised social tourism schemes.

According to SYRIZA sources, Tsipras said the problem in tourism was one of the most difficult issues, adding that "there is no plan, only a few steps".

He said that this uncertainty must end immediately in order for a basic programme to be drawn up. "We are in mid-May and, unfortunately, we do not have a picture on when the country's biggest industry will resume its operation."

Tsipras underlined the importance of tourism to the Greek economy, noting that the developments concerning tourism and preventing the potential of the current year from being entirely lost was not something that concerned tourism alone but the entire Greek economy, as tourism accounted for nearly 20 pct of Greece's GDP.