Tourists who chose Greece for their holidays this year will leave around €120 million in tips during their stay, according to Greek newspaper “Kathimerini.” The amount is determined by taking into account that 50% of international visitors will leave at least 10 euros to the employees that will serve them during their stay. This means that for every 1 million, more or less, tourists who visit the country each year, the total amount of tips in the tourist sector can be increased or decreased by 5 million euros. If gratuities left by Greeks are added, then this resource may reach even higher levels. Hotel businesses and international bodies in Greece have already urged tourists to leave their tips in their own way. For example, a large international hotel chain took part in a 2014 campaign asking its visitors to voluntarily leave a tip for the maids in an enveloppe placed inside the rooms. In addition, the “American Hotel and Lodging Association” prepared a guide with a proposed gratuity regarding various services. For example, a tip of around $1 to $2 is suggested to the driver of a free ride, $1 to $5 for a car delivery during parking, $1 to $5 for the luggage, $1 to $5 daily to the room cleaners and 15-20% of the total bill for the bartender and waitress. The visitors who leave the biggest tips during their stay in Greece are mainly Americans and Germans. According to a relevant research conducted by an international travel agency, 3 out of 5 American tourists and 1 out of 2 Germans choose to leave tips. Hellenic Federation of Hoteliers President Yiannis Retsos, commenting on the research’s data, said that it is obvious that the income of employees is increased during the good years for tourism, while in years with a drop in tourism traffic revenues fall short. According to Retsos, for every 1 million additional visitors in Greece, 50,000 more jobs in tourism are created.
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