Yachting Tourism Down In 2012

Yacht reservations dropped some 30 percent in May only, compared with the same period in 2011, while the industry expected better results from last minute bookings, according to the general secretary of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), George Vernicos.

In a recent press release, SETE’s general secretary underlined that the economic crisis and Greek political uncertainty (due to the recent elections) were not the only reasons yacht bookings had dropped. “Wrong choices are also to blame,” he said.

According to Mr. Vernicos, added presumption amounts on yachts, passed by Greek Parliament in June 2011 under the panic of a financial upset for Greece, created large distortions in the market and “steered” yachts elsewhere.

At SETE’s 20th General Assembly last month, yacht sector experts said bookings had dropped this year by some 50 percent compared to 2011.

According to the press, the decline in yacht bookings also affects hotel reservations as foreigners who arrive in Greece to charter a yacht initially stay in a hotel for several days.

Greek hoteliers told the press that since the first round of Greek general elections on 6 May, bookings were down some 35 percent.