Dozens of Investment Plans Submitted for Greek Port and Marina Upgrades

Photo source: Greek Yachting Association (GYA)

As part of Greek government efforts to create high level infrastructure that will be able to meet the growing demand for marine tourism and yachting, the Tourism Ministry announced that it had received 41 investment plans by the January 31 deadline after a call for projects that will upgrade the country’s ports and marinas.

The government will be allocating 139,090,800.00 euros in RRF funds so that the selected investment plans move forward. The plans submitted by the managing bodies of the ports and marinas came to a total of 184,588,025.30 euros exceeding the foreseen budget. The tourism ministry will be evaluating the plans and reaching a final decision on those that will be included in the program.

Commenting on the news, Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni said significant steps were being made towards the upgrade of the country’s ports and marinas which will pave the way for the best utilization of marine tourism.

The priority, Kefalogianni said, was to improve the quality of marine tourism services offered and the ability to meet the increasing demand while remaining competitive and strengthening Greece’s reputation globally.

Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni.

At the same time, protecting the country’s marine environment and coastal areas and carrying out infrastructure project that focus on sustainability and sustainable management of tourist flows was a key goal.

Among others, the funding program will cover infrastructure upgrades to meet the market’s advanced requirements and maintain competitiveness; certification of ‘green’ marinas based on international standards; the digitization of tourist port facilities and services; making existing facilities accessible to all visitors.

Last winter, Kefalogianni told a Greek Marinas Association meeting that revised legislation would be simplifying licensing procedures for port and marina projects in order to encourage investment activity.