Thessaloniki Making Efforts to Become a Prime Cruise Destination

Cruise ship at Thessaloniki Port.

The Thessaloniki Port Authority (ThPA) is taking action to turn the Greek northern city into a prime cruise destination, according to the authority’s BoD Executive Chairman Athanasios Liagkos.

Speaking during the Next is Now conference in Athens on Wednesday, Liagkos said ThPA is carrying out a 180-million-euro investment project aiming to turn Thessaloniki into a transportation hub for Southeastern Europe and attract more cruise ships.

Works include the expansion of pier 6, in order to triple container capacity; the upgrade of machinery equipment; and the upgrade of the cruise terminal.

“Thessaloniki is not among the world’s popular cruise destinations but we have tried to change that and develop its potential during the difficult period of the coronavirus pandemic in a way that would ensure resilience over time as well stability,” Liagkos said.

Thessaloniki Port Authority Board of Directors Executive Chairman Athanasios Liagkos

49 confirmed cruise ship arrivals for 2022

During the conference, Liagkos also announced that Thessaloniki already has 49 confirmed cruise arrivals for 2022.

This is an increase compared to 2021, when Thessaloniki received only 17 cruise ships due to the Covid-19 lockdowns and travel restrictions. However, passenger capacity this year reached 80 percent, while 50-60 percent of cruise ships used Thessaloniki as a homeport, offering multiple benefits to the city with the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers.

“Passengers spend four times more money in a homeport destination compared to transit destinations… We invest in infrastructure, implement all [health] protocols and collaborate with local authorities in order to further develop cruise tourism in Thessaloniki,” Liagkos said.

Athanasios Liagkos participated in the Next is Now panel discussion under the theme “Infrastructure, policies and incentives for attracting investments”.

Investments to bring multiple benefits

Photo source: Thessaloniki Port Authority

According to a survey conducted by Deloitte two months ago, the Thessaloniki Port Authority’s investment plan is expected to bring multiple benefits to Thessaloniki and Greece in general.

During the first two to three years of its implementation, upgrade works will generate over 230 million euros in revenue for the whole port ecosystem (including partner companies, suppliers and transport companies).

The Greek state will receive 35 million euros per year from direct and indirect taxes.

In addition, the project is expected to generate 90 million euros in added value during the construction period and create 3,000 new jobs.

Following the project’s completion and for a period of 10 years (2026-2035), the project will generate annual revenue of 272 million euros for the port’s entire supply chain; annual tax revenue (direct and indirect) of 55 million euros for the Greek state, and 4,000 new jobs.

In relevant news, the Greek Tourism Ministry this week announced that it would kickstart cruise travel to Greece in March 2022 – earlier compared to previous years.

The Greek government also plans to channel EU recovery funds into infrastructure upgrades that will facilitate cruise ship arrivals.