More expensive cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, and beer, as well as fuel, and public and taxi transportation. As of June 1, Greece has increased the excise duty of fuel, alcohol, and tobacco. It is expected that traders will add this increased taxes in the final price of these products.
Those products will be paid by Macedonians to go on vacation in some of the tourist destinations. Greece is the most common choice in the tourist agencies on the country, and vacation will cost more expensive since Greek parliament has adopted the law which allows new reform package for Greek budget savings.
The increase of value added tax (VAT) from 23 percent to 24 percent can make retailers increase the prices of coffee, ice cream, rice, and all packaged food.
Tourist taxes and hotel accommodation prices will increase as of 2018, thus no announcement for a drastic increase has been made. Tourist agencies have not announced increase in prices, but they said that hotel accommodation this year is more expensive than last year.
The Greek Parliament adopted the law that allows tax raise, excise duty raise, and other saving reforms. The package is part of the Government’s plan to take lack of money in the budget to 3.5 percent of GDP by the end of 2018.
According to the Law, the VAT rate is increased from 23 to 24 percent. Diesel, gasoline, electricity, internet, mobile communications, as well as alcohol and cigarettes prices are increasing. Tourists will be paying additional tax for hotel accommodation, and more expensive museum tickets. However, the tourist expenses will not be increased this year.
Macedonian tourist agencies said the partners with whom they traditionally work with, this year have told them prices will be higher this season.
Falcon agency told Telegraf.mk that all arrangements remain with the same prices which have been included in the pricelists. Fibula agency said the same, adding that this season, compared to last year, hotels have increased their prices.
“Prices remain the same for now. No partner has announced increases of the price. This year, however, if we analyze last year’s prices of hotels, are higher. We have not calculated how much exactly, but there has been some increase,” said Suzana Zelenikovska of Fibula.
According to the newly adopted measures, as of 2018, the price for hotel accommodation will be increased by EUR 2-4.
Greek media informed that food and beverage taxes may also increase, which would imply raise in prices in bars and restaurants as well. That will not benefit Macedonians, since they only pay the accommodation from here.
Agencies said that our tourists know this, so they rarely fill their fuel tanks in Greece, and carry cigarettes with them also, since these products are generally more expensive there.