Greece just introduced a new, official certification for hotels and rentals—the “Pet-Friendly Tourist Accommodation” label—to significantly upgrade travel for visitors with animals.
The joint initiative by the Tourism and Interior Ministries establishes clear standards. To qualify, lodgings must offer dedicated pet rooms with approved hygiene-focused flooring and furnishings. The regulations are inclusive, covering not just domestic animals but also service, working, and therapy animals.
Beyond hospitality, the framework strongly encourages animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. Certified businesses are urged to partner with local welfare groups to promote stray adoption and may optionally donate a portion of their revenue to local shelters.
Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni stated that this first-ever targeted legal framework is promoting compassion toward animals.
“We continue to upgrade the quality of hospitality for all visitors to our country, while also promoting compassion toward animals. Quality tourism means high standards of hospitality for everyone,” she said.
Deputy Minister Spanakis added that the reform builds on Greece’s 2021 animal welfare law, which established the Special Secretariat for the Protection of Companion Animals within the Ministry of the Interior. “This decision marks another step toward a modern, European framework for animal welfare—one that evolves in collaboration with the country’s vibrant animal rights movement and local authorities,” he noted.
Related: Pets Now Allowed in More Than 120 Archaeological Sites in Greece
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