While Greece basks in what will be its most profitable summer since before the economic crisis hit, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogiannis has warned property owners who rent out unlicensed holiday accommodation that their tax-free days are numbered.
In July the Confederation of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE) revised its projections for 2014 - from 18.5 million to 19 million arrivals (excluding 2.2 million on cruise ships). Airline bookings are up 25 per cent, with island airports reporting major increases in traffic.
As the season reaches its peak this month, Kefalogiannis says her ministry is ramping up efforts to rein in rogue landlords, and that a new wave of inspections - coupled with clearing the backlog of violations - has already raised over €2m.
Owners who make properties available for rent without a licence face fines of up to €50,000.
"We have accelerated the process of collecting fines…" said the minister, but she added inspections alone were not enough.