Full Liberation of Ferry Routes Doubtful

Presently, four of Greece’s major ferry routes -Dodekanissos, Cylades, Argosaronikos, Crete- fulfill the requirements for complete liberation when discussions are finalized between Greece’s merchant marine ministry and the European Commission.

But leaders in Greece’s tourism industry say they are doubtful of any substantial change in present ferry conditions, at least in the very near future.

The Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourism Agents, for example, says the marine ministry has yet to set ferry prices for this coming summer, which is the summer of the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece.

Since these prices are not available, travel agents have difficulty in setting prices for the package deals they promote abroad. The association says its members cannot even estimate ferry prices as they have done in the past since it’s most likely prices will increase substantially this summer. At the very least, the association says, prices should be set for major routes, such as those from Piraeus to Crete, Rodos, Mykonos, etc.