Crime squad sets sights on tourism firms
Greece’s tourism sector, which accounts for about 18 percent of the country’s annual economic growth, has been targeted by the financial crimes squad YPEE in a bid to catch tax cheats. YPEE, the Special Inspections Service under the supervision of the Finance Ministry, said in a statement yesterday it had conducted audits on 515 businesses in resort areas, including restaurants, hotels and car rental firms, from August 17 to 23 and found that 331 were found to have breached the law. ‘The average rate of violations being committed in these areas is 64.27 percent and this is considered particularly high,’ YPEE said, adding that it will continue to conduct spot checks.