Online Platforms for Tourist Accommodation from Economic Policy Perspective in Greece: Case for Further Digitalization

People all over the world are increasingly using modern ways of communication when they travel. Tourism contributes a significant share to economic growth in Greece and has been robust in recent years. That was helped by communication and information technologies and new business models that enable households to offer their spare accommodation to tourists via various online platforms. In that respect, it is Internet connectivity and digital skills that are crucial to be able to participate in the digital economy. This paper focuses on the economic viewpoint of digitalization enabled through Internet in Greece. The paper is organized with a twofold aim. On one hand, the aim is, by analysing data from the Eurostat database and other sources, to explore the evolution of digitalization enabled through Internet in Greece in the last few years. On the other hand, by exploring data about financing opportunities available via European Union funds, the aim is to review the argument that, as a result of further digitalization, households’ disposable income would get a boost, and hence, aggregate demand would rise. The conclusion of the in-depth look at the economic argument is that further digitalization would help Greece towards achieving its macroeconomic policy goals. That is crucial considering that the country has very high public debt and that the economy has not yet fully recovered from the financial crisis that started in 2008. This is especially relevant now considering the coronavirus outbreak in the first quarter of 2020 causing a set-back to achieving some goals.