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Greek tax authorities have intensified their campaign against tax evasion in the tourism sector, targeting day-cruise operators on the islands of Kos and Santorini.
Inspectors from the Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) boarded tourist boats disguised as travelers and uncovered widespread violations, including unissued receipts, hidden revenues, and cash transactions over legal limits.
The operation, code-named “I’ll take you on a cruise,” was carried out in coordination with the Hellenic Coast Guard.
Teams of inspectors from outside Kos purchased tickets either online or with cash, joined day cruises, and observed whether receipts were issued for onboard purchases and ticket sales.
Before the end of the trips, they revealed their identities and issued fines.
In parallel, other inspectors cross-checked passenger lists obtained from the Coast Guard with data from Greece’s digital tax platforms myDATA and e-Send.
The analysis showed major discrepancies, confirming hidden turnover.
The Kos operation followed a similar sweep in Santorini a month earlier.
There, inspectors waited for dozens of vessels to return to the ports of Vlychada and Akrotiri after sunset cruises before launching surprise inspections.
Authorities checked 23 boats and found violations on 10 of them, mainly for missing or inaccurate receipts and cash payments over €500 ($590) without bank transfers.
Fines totaled €14,140, with an additional €20,000 in financial penalties.
The companies involved are now under deeper audits covering multiple years.
The crackdown on cruise operators is part of AADE’s wider summer campaign, “Operation Summer,” which targets tax violations in tourism-heavy regions.
Between June 1 and July 15, inspectors carried out 9,140 audits across Greece, uncovering violations in 3,120 businesses.
In August, further inspections revealed significant cases of evasion in Mykonos, including an art shop that withheld €107,000 in receipts and €26,000 in VAT, leading to a two-day closure.
Algorithms, drones track tax evasion in Greece
Authorities are also using algorithms, artificial intelligence, and drones to detect tax cheats.
AADE’s online monitoring systems scan social media for posts suggesting undeclared wealth.
In one case, a well-known rapper was caught routing over €1 million in royalties through a nonprofit organization to buy luxury goods and supercars. He now faces more than €500,000 in taxes and fines.
Why it matters
Tourism is one of Greece’s main economic drivers, contributing nearly 25% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Tax evasion in the sector has long been a challenge, depriving the state of revenue and creating unfair competition.
The latest operations send a message that authorities are intensifying controls ahead of the 2025 autumn tourist season.
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