FedHATTA demands the immediate compliance of Turkish travel agencies with the existing legal framework in Greece regarding the movement of tourists by foreign tourism offices, calling on the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TÜRSAB) to inform its members that they cannot provide tourism services in our country unless they have a legal presence in Greece or cooperate with a licensed Greek travel agency. FedHATTA clarifies that the current practice is illegal, cannot be tolerated, and if continued, will lead to legal actions.

In response to a letter from TÜRSAB regarding the smooth continuation of tourism activities in Turkey amid recent geopolitical developments in the broader region, FedHATTA announced that since March 5, it has informed its members and, through them, all travel agencies in Greece about the safety of vacations in the neighboring country. The Federation emphasizes that it fully shares the need for an uninterrupted and smooth continuation of tourism activities in the common Mediterranean area, based on institutional cooperation, stability, and mutual trust between the tourism professionals of the two countries.

However, in this context, FedHATTA stresses that the movement of tourists to Greek destinations via Turkish travel agencies must be done with absolute respect for the relevant Greek legislation.

As the Federation points out, Greek travel agencies strictly adhere to Turkish legislation when organizing trips to Turkey and providing travel services in the neighboring country, collaborating with Turkish travel agencies that are members of TÜRSAB. At the same time, it is observed that, in the vast majority of cases, Turkish travel agencies operate in Greece without complying with the corresponding Greek legislative provisions.

For this reason, FedHATTA calls on TÜRSAB to promptly and clearly inform its members that they are required to comply with Greek legislation when operating in Greece, just as Greek travel agencies do when operating in Turkey.

The president of FedHATTA, Lysandros Tsilidis, emphasizes: “Greek legislation is absolutely clear. According to Article 3, Paragraph 2 of Law 393/1976, as amended, natural or legal persons from third countries can provide tourism services in Greece only if they have legally established themselves in the country according to the prescribed procedures or cooperate with a travel agency that operates legally in Greece. Despite this clear provision, which had been communicated in a timely manner to the embassies of third countries, it is found that Turkish travel agencies continue to provide services in our country without legal establishment or without cooperation with a legally operating Greek travel agency. This practice is illegal and unacceptable.

The Federation believes in institutional cooperation, reciprocity, and healthy competition for the benefit of tourism in both countries. However, this can only exist under one non-negotiable condition: the full compliance of all with the existing legal framework.”

FedHATTA makes it clear that this is the last warning to those who persist in ignoring legality. Should the current situation continue, the Federation will take all legal actions to enforce the law and protect the interests of Greek travel agencies.