Grants for Diving Tourism

Grants for Diving Tourism

The programme "Grants for Diving Tourism" concerns the promotion of the underwater environment through the creation and upgrading of diving/underwater parks and the use of the comparative advantages (natural and cultural) that the country has, based on the principles of sustainability, as well as the improvement of the Country's overall tourism product by strengthening its diversification and developing special-interest products.

Through the Programme, aid is provided to the participating enterprises so that they can install energy-efficient equipment:

• Expenses for studies.
• Expenses for the construction, extension,  modernisation of underwater facilities and the supply of equipment.
• Investments in the supply of electric boats for transporting employees and customers.
• Expenses for publicity -  promotion.
• Expenses that consist of the cost of training and consultancy services provided by external consultants.

The main aim of the Programme is the development and upgrading of diving tourism in Greece. Through it, the aim is to promote and protect the underwater environment, strengthen the local economy and create special-interest tourism products that are available all year round.

Through investments funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility, the programme seeks:

• To promote special-interest tourism with ecological and cultural values.
• To boost the local economy and employment.
• To maintain sustainability, with actions that respect the natural environment and cultural heritage.

Grants for Diving Tourism - Who it concerns

Beneficiaries of the Programme

• Diving Park Management Bodies, as defined in Article 13 of Law 3409/2005 (Government Gazette A' 273 /5.2005).
• The legal entities defined in the provisions of Article 41 of Law 3153/2003: Public services and organisations, local authorities and fishing cooperatives. The above have the status of "Applicant for the sinking", as mentioned in Joint Ministerial Decision No 3000.0/31173/2023, Government Gazette 2968/B'/5.5.2023, for the creation of Free Artificial Underwater Attractions as described in Article 8 of Law 4688/2020 (Government Gazette A' 101/24.5.2020).
• Recreational Diving Service Providers (Diving Centres, Scuba Diving Schools) as defined in Article 6 of Law 3409/2005 and specified by Ministerial Decision 2131.7/76069/2022 (Government Gazette B' 5617/02.011.2022), with KAD code 85.51.10.03 Diving instruction services.

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria of the programme "Grants for Diving Tourism" include the following:

1. Lawful Establishment of the Beneficiary

Under this Call, a funding application can be submitted by existing bodies, regardless of size, which:

• operate lawfully,
• operate in Greek territory

2. Private Contribution of the Beneficiary (ONLY for beneficiary category 3. Recreational Diving Service Providers)

For the category of recreational diving service providers, a private contribution must be secured to cover the investment plans

Place of implementation

The place/places for implementing the actions of this Call is exclusively one category of Region. The Region in which the investment plan will be carried out is declared in the funding application.

• For diving parks, the place of implementation is the designated and delimited area as described in Law 4296/2014.
• For free artificial underwater attractions, the investment is implemented at sea, on the seabed and in the port sea zones of Greek territory. The terms and the procedure for sinking ships, wrecks, floating structures or other artificial fish shelters for the development of the recreational diving sector are described in Joint Ministerial Decision No 3000.0/31173/2023 (Government Gazette 2968/B'/5.5.2023).
• For Recreational Diving Service Providers, the investment is implemented in owned or leased premises. The place of implementation must be lawfully held at the latest on the date the first request for payment of the aid of paragraph 9.3 is submitted.

The investment may be implemented at the registered office of the enterprise included and/or at a branch of it in any Regional Unit.

Program budget

The total public expenditure of this Call for funding investment plans is six million two hundred thousand euros (€6,200,000.00) and is broken down as follows:

• Five million euros (€5,000,000.00) which will be paid by the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) in the form of a grant
• One million two hundred thousand euros (€1,200,000.00) which will be paid by the National Public Investment Programme (PDE) for the VAT.

Amount of subsidy

Expenses subsidized

Every funding application concerns the subsidy of the following expenses:

• Expenses for studies.
• Expenses for the construction, extension, modernisation of underwater facilities and the supply of equipment.
• Investments in the supply of electric boats for transporting employees and customers.
• Expenses for publicity - promotion.
• Expenses that consist of the cost of training and consultancy services provided by external consultants.

The interventions must comply with the institutional framework in force for environmental and other relevant legislation.

All the equipment supplied must carry the appropriate certificates of safe operation and of compatibility with the safety limits imposed by directives, regulations and the national framework.

The start date for the eligibility of expenses is the date of publication of the call of the Action

Important dates

Start of submission of applications: 16/10/2024

End of submission of applications: 20/12/2024 at 23:59

The period for submitting proposals may end earlier than the date set above, if the available resources are exhausted

The start date for the eligibility of expenses is the date of publication of the call of the Action

Duration of Implementation of the Investment Plan: The implementation period of the investment plans is set at 12 months, with the possibility of an extension of up to two (2) months, granted following a specifically reasoned and documented request by the Beneficiary exclusively for reasons of force majeure, and in any case up to 31 December 2025. In any case, the final date for submitting the last request for payment of the aid is no later than 31/10/2025.

Furthermore, the implementing body may, by a specifically reasoned decision, extend the final date for implementing the investment plans beyond 14 months.

Supporting documents required for submission

15/10/2024

Supporting documents for Diving Park Management Bodies (in Greek)

Supporting documents for legal entities defined in the provisions of Article 41 of Law 3153/2003 (in Greek)

Supporting documents for Recreational Diving Service Providers (in Greek)

Useful files

15/10/2024

Grants for Diving Tourism - Call of the Action (in Greek)

Grants for Diving Tourism - Frequently asked questions (in Greek)