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ECONOMY
-The price increase on 850 pharmaceutical drugs in circulation at Greece’s pharmacies comes into effect today, TA NEA newspaper reported. The hike ranges from 1 to 5 euros.
-Greece is 16th among European Union member states in terms of household net disposable income, according to the National Economy & Finance Ministry.
-Hotel owners object strongly to a demand by municipalities to hike the occupancy tax to 2% of turnover from the current 0.5%, Kathimerini reported.
-Families need more support, a study by the Center of Planning and Economic Research (KEPE) reveals, after looking at the disposable income of different sized households in 2009, 2013 and 2023.
GENERAL
-The wildfire on Mt Pangeo, in northeastern Greece, continues to rage for sixth consecutive day. A total of 46 fire engines with 280 member crew, 25 firefighters on foot assisted by five water dropping helicopters and a firefighting aircraft are battling the blaze.
TOURISM
-Greece saw a 9.8% drop in Airbnb average daily rates (ADR) in July, according to an Airbnb report. In Norway, Sweden, and Greece, the annual decline in ADR coincides with a consistent drop in occupancy rates, the report found.
-About 2.5 million tourists from around the world are estimated to visit Meteora each year, making it the second most popular travel destination in mainland Greece, the mayor of Meteora, Lefteris Avramopoulos told the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).
-This summer, occupancy rates in the Greek islands exceeded 90% industry representatives said in statements to AMNA. On the other hand, destinations accessible by car in the country underperformed with market representatives expressing concerns about the erosion of their revenues due to rising operating costs and the reduced spending by customers.
-Air traffic is at record levels: On Saturday 10 August 2024 the Air Traffic Control of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) served 4,944 flights in the Athens F.I.R (arrivals, departures and transits/overflights of aircraft), a number that is a new all-time record, the Civil Aviation Authority said.
