New Subsidized Program for Diving and Underwater Tourism
Start Date: October 16, 2024
End Date: December 20, 2024
Geographic Area: All of Greece
The submission of applications for the “Diving Tourism Subsidies” program began on October 16, as announced in a call for expressions of interest published by the Ministry of Tourism.
The call is addressed to Dive Park Management Entities, legal entities (Businesses) for the creation of Free Artificial Underwater Attractions, and Providers of Recreational Diving Services (Dive Centers, Underwater Swimming Schools, etc.). The subsidy comes in the form of a Grant/Allowance with a total available budget of €6,200,000.
The program aims to fund investments in both existing and new infrastructure, as well as in equipment, to develop and enhance diving and underwater tourism.
Objective
The project's objective is to protect and promote the underwater environment and capitalize on the country's comparative (natural and cultural) advantages to improve the overall tourism product.
Subsidy
Subsidized Budgets Include:
- For Dive Park Management Entities as defined in Article 13 of Law 3409/2005 (Government Gazette A’ 273/5.2005), from €100,000 to €300,000 with 100% funding.
- For legal entities acting as "Applicants for Submersion" for the creation of Free Artificial Underwater Attractions, from €50,000 to €300,000 with 100% funding. These entities have the role of “Applicants for Submersion,” as mentioned in Ministerial Decision No. 3000.0/31173/2023, Government Gazette 2968/B’/5.5.2023, for creating Free Artificial Underwater Attractions described in Article 8 of Law 4688/2020 (Government Gazette A’ 101/24.5.2020).
- For Providers of Recreational Diving Services with NACE Code 85.51.10.03 (Diving Training Services), from €20,000 to €200,000, with up to 60% funding.
Eligible Expenses
The financial support provided under this call includes:
- Upgrading and constructing dive parks as described in Article 13 of Law 3409/2005.
- Creating free artificial underwater attractions as described in Article 8 of Law 4688/2020.
- Creating infrastructure and purchasing equipment for diving services.
- Expenses for studies.
- Expenses for transportation means (boats) for transfers to diving sites.
- Expenses for diving equipment.
- Expenses for consultant services for subsidized projects, for submitting applications and monitoring investment plans.
The implementation period for investment plans is set at 12 months, with the possibility of a two-month extension granted upon a well-justified and documented request by the beneficiary, exclusively for reasons of force majeure, and in any case, until December 31, 2025.