Greece Is Giving Away 300,000 Holiday Vouchers and the Results Are Out

Greece releases preliminary beneficiary lists for its 2026 Social Tourism Programme, which distributes 300,000 subsidised holiday vouchers worth a combined 50 million euros to workers and unemployed citizens.

Greece’s Public Employment Service (DYPA) published the preliminary results of its Social Tourism Programme 2026-2027 on 15 May, triggering a three-day objections window before final beneficiary lists are confirmed. More than 816,000 applications were submitted for a scheme that offers only 300,000 vouchers, meaning the majority of applicants did not make the initial cut.

The programme, which launched on 18 May 2026, allocates holiday vouchers to private-sector employees and registered unemployed individuals, allowing them to take subsidised stays of up to 6 nights at tourist accommodation across Greece. Beneficiaries cover just 25% of their costs, with the state funding the remainder through a 50-million-euro budget.

Record demand strains the scheme

Applications for the 2026-2027 cycle exceeded 800,000 for the first time, more than double the number of available vouchers. DYPA governor Yianna Chormova said the high volume reflected strong public interest and confirmed that the objections process, which ran from 16 to 18 May via the gov.gr portal, would determine the final allocation. Only electronic objections submitted through the official platform were considered valid.

Those excluded from the preliminary lists were permitted to submit one formal objection, citing the specific grounds for their rejection and attaching supporting documentation. Final results are expected to follow shortly after the objections deadline closed on the night of 18 May.

Who qualifies and what the voucher covers

Eligibility extends to private-sector employees insured through e-EFKA with unemployment insurance contributions paid within the 12 months preceding the application deadline, as well as unemployed individuals registered with DYPA for at least three consecutive months. Income thresholds mirror those used for the heating allowance: up to 16,000 euros for single applicants, 24,000 euros for couples, plus 5,000 euros per child, and 29,000 euros for single parents.

Family members including spouses, children aged 5 to 18, and dependent adult children with disabilities may also participate. For the first time in 2026, large families are exempt from the points-based ranking system and qualify automatically provided they meet income and employment criteria.

Each voucher covers up to 6 overnight stays at registered providers. On the eastern Aegean islands of Leros, Lesvos, Chios, Kos, Samos and Rhodes, beneficiaries receive up to 10 nights at no personal cost. In Northern Evia, Evros and Thessaly, excluding the Sporades, stays of up to 12 nights are fully subsidised throughout the entire 13-month programme period.

Ferry subsidies and peak-season uplift

Ferry tickets are also covered under the scheme, with beneficiaries paying 25% of the fare. People with disabilities receive ferry travel at no cost. Subsidy rates for accommodation rise by 20% during August, the Christmas period from 15 December 2026 to 14 January 2027, and Easter from 23 April to 9 May 2027. The enhanced rate applies year-round at properties in the designated recovery regions of Northern Evia, Evros and Thessaly.

Vouchers are assigned a unique identification code and must be activated electronically. Beneficiaries who receive a voucher but do not use it face a two-year exclusion from future programmes, with exceptions made for large families and persons with disabilities. Those who benefited from the 2025-2026 cycle are not eligible to apply again, with the same exceptions applying.

Broader role in Greek domestic tourism

The Social Tourism Programme is one of Greece’s principal tools for stimulating domestic travel demand outside the peak summer season and directing visitors toward regions that receive fewer tourist arrivals. By anchoring enhanced subsidies in areas such as Northern Evia, which suffered severe wildfire damage in 2021, the scheme combines welfare policy with targeted regional recovery.

The 2026-2027 cycle began a month earlier than the previous edition, a scheduling shift DYPA said was designed to maximise the usable window for off-peak and shoulder-season travel across the programme’s 13-month duration.