The head of Greece’s tourism enterprises association (SETE) on Wednesday told fellow members that reaching 50 percent of 2019’s revenues this year appears “extremely difficult”, although he expressed optimism that an “unexpectedly good” second half of 2021 will be posted.

SETE president Yannis Retsos qualified his prediction, saying a better second half of the year depends on no more public health restrictions.

Retsos told SETE members that Greece still retains a very strong brand name, including the manner in which it managed the pandemic.

Speaking with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the audience, the tourism sector president first extended kudos to the former’s center-right government handling of the pandemic and the state’s financial assistance to the sector.

At the same time, he called for continued financial support, as the effects of the public health crisis are apparent on the economy and the travel industry.

He all called for a substantial portion of Greece’s share of the EU recovery and resilience fund to be funneled to the tourism sector.

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