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.