Tasos Bampalikis, a hospitality entrepreneur with business interests in both Portugal and Spain, spoke to Voice of Greece and “Our Global Voice” with Dimitris Kontogiannis about economic and business developments in the two countries.
He noted that Portuguese consumers have become more cautious in their spending following the sharp rise in fuel prices, although tourism continues to perform strongly and remains a key driver of the economy.
Mr. Bampalikis also discussed the acute labor shortages affecting the hospitality sector, a challenge that recently forced him to close one of his restaurants. In addition, he compared the high tax burden faced by self-employed professionals in Spain with what he described as Portugal’s more favorable environment for entrepreneurs.