Greek authorities are replacing broad inspections with targeted operations designed to identify businesses presenting the highest risk of fiscal irregularities.
SANTORINI, Greece | August 2026. Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue detected tax violations on 12 of the 26 tourist vessels inspected in Santorini. The transactions associated with the irregularities totaled €92,000, while authorities imposed €43,000 in fines. The operation, code-named “I’m Taking You on a Cruise 2026,” targeted excursion boats and catamarans returning to the island’s ports.
Inspectors examined whether companies issued valid receipts, applied the correct value-added tax rate and complied with payment regulations. Violations included missing or incorrect receipts, insufficient documentation, cash payments exceeding €500 and the use of VAT rates below those required by law. Authorities will now cross-check fiscal records and may investigate previous tax periods.
The vessels were selected using fiscal information, statistical data and algorithmic analysis. The system does not determine whether a business has committed fraud; it identifies cases considered worthy of closer human inspection. Consequently, the 46% violation rate applies only to the targeted vessels and cannot be interpreted as representing Santorini’s entire tourism sector.
The strategy reflects Greece’s broader shift toward technology-assisted tax enforcement in its economically vital tourism industry. During 2025, authorities sanctioned or temporarily closed 300 businesses and identified 202 cases in which payment terminals were not connected to cash registers, generating €2.59 million in fines. Data-driven targeting may allow inspectors to concentrate limited resources where hidden economic activity is most likely to occur.
Detrás de cada dato, la intención.
Behind every data point, the intention.