Thousands of farmers in Greece will benefit from free or heavily subsidized holidays under a new social support program launched through the Agricultural Welfare Account (LAE) and administered by the welfare agency OPEKA.
The initiative is expected to support 27,500 farmers while also boosting tourism businesses, particularly in the Evros region and across islands in the North and South Aegean.
Free and Subsidized Holidays
Under the program, eligible beneficiaries will be entitled to holidays of up to six days, including five overnight stays, at participating tourist accommodation providers.
For selected destinations, the duration of the subsidized stay will be extended to up to 12 nights. These areas include municipalities in Evia, the regional unit of Evros, and the regional units of Magnesia, Karditsa, Larissa and Trikala.
Farmers choosing participating accommodation on specific Aegean islands and in Evros without breakfast included will be able to enjoy their holidays without any additional accommodation costs.
Spa Tourism and Family Benefits
The scheme also includes a subsidized spa tourism program lasting up to six days. Beneficiaries will be entitled to up to five free therapeutic bath treatments at participating thermal spring facilities. In the designated regions, overnight stays may also be extended to 12 nights.
Additional benefits include:
- Subsidized children’s summer camps for up to 16 days.
- A four-day organized excursion program.
- Free books and theatre tickets for eligible participants.
Financial Support for Families
The program provides direct financial assistance to mothers with large families.
Under the scheme:
- 2,300 mothers with three children will receive grants of €700 each.
- 600 mothers with four or more children will receive grants of €1,000 each.
Scholarships for Students
For the first time, the program introduces scholarships and financial awards for students who successfully gained admission to higher education through Greece’s national university entrance examinations.
A total of 2,106 students will receive awards of €1,000 each.
Participating Islands
The program covers accommodation businesses in Evros and numerous islands in the North and South Aegean, including Lesvos, Lemnos, Agios Efstratios, Samos, Ikaria, Fournoi, Chios, Oinousses, Psara, Kos, Patmos, Rhodes, Karpathos, Kasos, Leros, Kalymnos, Astypalea, Nisyros, Symi, Tilos, Halki, Lipsi, Agathonisi and Kastellorizo.
