ECONOMY
-International media outlets have critisized Greece’s introduction of a six-day working week, saying the move is at odds with workplace culture elsewhere in Europe and the US, where four-day working patterns are becoming more common. New legislation, which came into effect at the start of July, allows employees to work up to 48 hours in a week as opposed to 40.
-The shareholders of Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) approved by majority vote all items on the agenda, including the distribution of highest dividend in its history: 1.34 euros gross per share for fiscal year 2023, a 29% increase compared to 2022.
SHIPPING
In H1 2024, Greek shipowners placed orders for more than 120 ships, Naftemporiki reported. The most active company was Capital Maritime with contracts for 20 new vessels, followed by Dynacom Tankers, with 12 orders.
REAL ESTATE
In Q1 2024, the contribution of the real estate market as a percentage of all foreign investments reached 43.3%, as out of a total of €1.2 billion that flowed into the Greek economy, €520 million concerned the country’s property market, according to data from the Bank of Greece.
TOURISM
-The creation of a “Book of Tourism Transformation and Development”, a comprehensive plan aimed at guiding and shaping the future of tourism in Greece from 2030 to 2035, was announced by Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.
-In 2023, the average money spend in Greece per trip by tourists originating from Germany and Romania increased, according to the processing of credit card transaction data carried out by Visa.
-Athens International Airport (AIA) announced on earlier this week the freezing of airport fees for 2024, except for the Passenger Terminal Facility (PTF) charge. The increased PTF charge will go into effect as of November 1.
SOCIAL
Just one in ten Greeks state that they are happy with their daily life and six in ten Greeks would live to live in another country, according to an international survey on “Aspirations – Dreams – Expectations” conducted by the international network IRIS (International Research Institutes), with the participation, on behalf of Greece, of Focus Bari.