REPEAL OF THE LEGAL RESTRICTIONS IN TOURISM
The
green light is given by Ministry of Environment, Energy & Climate Change
for tourism investments and construction projects in forest areas, releasing at
the same time the public pieces of land that HRADF plans to privatize. The new
arrangements that are expected to be announced within the week is given the
ability to build and operate contracts with long term use of large tourist
complex units that include facilities of spa, spa tourism, ski resorts, golf
and all the infrastructure required for their access (roads, cable car etc.).
The
legal payback included in the law in order to avoid conflicts with the CoS is
the obligation of the investor to proceed with reforestation of an area at
least equal to that used for tourist exploitation. Projects can not proceed,
however, in the first zone of protection. It can proceed in areas that can be
reforested, if so provided by the management plans. Noted however, that at this
time there are no management plans for reforestation areas.
The
new law still provides for the simplification of licensing in all infrastructure,
including large public works. The new regulations is estimated by the
government to find immediately scope to exploit in the spa tourism units, the
sale process of which has already started by HRADF from Ipati, Thermopylae and Kamena
Vourla.