The aim of the action was to provide financial support for tourism activity in the areas of North Evia and Samos.

The main benefit was the enhancement of local tourism, as beneficiaries could use the North Evia - Samos Pass platform, which was launched through vouchers.gov.gr, to issue the intangible digital debit card, for use in accommodation, catering and local transport costs in the above-mentioned affected areas at specific time periods.

In accordance with the provisions made in the Joint Ministerial Decision No. 3347/B/28-06-2022 of the Greek Government Gazette, the beneficiaries claimed and used the available digital cards in five separate phases, within the deadline of each phase.  The action was structured by month, starting on June 30 and ending on October 31, 2022.  In this context, the following number of cards was distributed:

• 499 cards for North Evia, each worth 150 euros
• 686 cards for Samos, each worth 300 euros

Throughout the North Evia - Samos Pass action, more than €5.67 million was spent, with 33,377 beneficiaries having successfully transacted in businesses in the above destinations. It is worth mentioning that a total of 1,330 businesses accepted at least one transaction with the North Evia or Samos Pass (169,489 successful transactions), confirming the initial projections of the action to boost local tourism. From the data on the use of the cards by Merchant Category Code, it was observed that catering businesses were the first choice of beneficiaries in both regions, followed by spending in tourist accommodation and hotels and finally in transport.

More information on the procedure that was  followed is available in the action's Press Releases, in which the launch and the application procedure for each implementation phase were announced:

• Phase 1
• Phase 2
• Phase 3
• Phase 4a
• Phase 4b Phase 4 restart announcement for available funds and cards not used in previous phases.

North Evia - Samos Pass was implemented by the National Network of Infrastructures for Research and Technology - (GRNET S.A.), a public sector technology company under the Ministry of Digital Governance.  The action was funded by the Public Investment Programme, with a total budget of 6 million Euros, undertaking, among other tasks, the technical design and implementation of the action.

The details of the action were regulated by the Joint Ministerial Decision No. 3603/28-06-2022 (Greek Government Gazette B' 3347/28.06.2022) of the Ministries of Digital Governance, Finance, Development & Investment and Tourism, with the cooperation of the Prime Minister's Deputy Minister responsible for Disaster Recovery and State Aid