Greek Daily News 18/07/2024

ECONOMY

-In Q1 2024, job openings soared to a record high of 70,826 positions, up 115.6% on an annual basis, according to the latest data from Greece’s Statistical Authority (ELSTAT).

-Greece has made notable advancements in structural reforms aimed at bolstering competition, the latest OECD report said.

-The annual EY survey on Greece’s attractiveness for investors found a 6% annual growth in 2023 in “greenfield” investments and a 51% of executives surveyed declaring their intention to develop or expand their activity in the country this year, against 40% in 2023.

-In the 9-year period of the 2010-18 memoranda, a total of 796,191 people belonging to the economically active population left Greece, Naftemporiki reported citing an analysis by the ENA Institute. “Their departure not only deprives the Greek economy of valuable human capital but constitutes another proof that the losses suffered by the Greek economy during the period of the memoranda had long-lasting consequences.”

-Greece remains among the most expensive countries in the eurozone for branded standard supermarket products, a study by the Bank of Greece reveals. The differences reach 129% for carbonated water or 56% for long-life UHT milk.

REAL ESTATE

In H1 2024, the value of luxury property sales showed an increase of around 90% compared to the same period of 2023, Kathimerini reported citing Sotheby’s International Realty office in Greece.

GENERAL

All archaeological sites in Athens are to remain closed between noon and 17:00 today due to the extremely high temperatures, the culture ministry announced.

TOURISM

-In H1 2024, airport passenger traffic increased by 11.4% compared to last year, according to the Civil Aviation Authority. The total number of passengers from January to June 2024 reached 30,594,981. The airports welcoming the most tourists this month are Athens International Airport, followed by Heraklion, Rhodes, Corfu, Thessaloniki, Kos, Chania, Zakynthos, Santorini, and Mykonos.

-According to the results of the survey on Arrivals and Nights Spent in hotels, similar establishments and tourist campsites and of short-stay accommodation establishments, conducted by the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), for the total of these establishments, in 2023 compared with 2022, an increase is recorded both in arrivals, by 13.9%, and in nights spent, by 10.9%.