CLIA: Cruise Companies Eager to Expand to New Destinations in Greece

The Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) confirmed on Thursday the strong interest of cruise companies in expanding their itineraries to include additional Greek destinations.

During a meeting with Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Christos Stylianides and Secretary General of the Aegean and Insular Policy Manolis Koutoulakis, held amidst the 2024 cruise season, CLIA representatives discussed key local issues and opportunities for strategic cooperation.

CLIA Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Maria Deligianni highlighted the significant growth in tourism in Greece, particularly in the islands of Santorini and Mykonos. She informed the minister about the association’s proactive efforts with local authorities to enhance cruise tourism practices and develop sustainable tourism strategies for these islands.

“This includes CLIA cruise lines’ commitment to maintaining the daily cruise cap of 8,000 passengers in Santorini and implementing a berth allocation system in Mykonos, which is crucial for ports experiencing high levels of cruise traffic,” Deligianni said.

According to 2023 data, 57 percent of cruise tourism in Greece is concentrated in Piraeus, Santorini, and Mykonos. CLIA’s representatives discussed with the minister the potential for expanding to new destinations across Greece.

CLIA noted that cruise companies are eager to enrich their itineraries by adding new Greek destinations, given the extensive opportunities available.

CLIA Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Maria Deligianni, Greek Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Christos Stylianides, CLIA Director General Europe Marie-Caroline Laurent and Secretary General of the Aegean and Insular Policy Manolis Koutoulakis.

It should be noted that CLIA launched an action plan for Greece last year, aimed at addressing sector challenges and opportunities for the benefit of both Greece and the cruise lines.

“Greece is a destination cruise market of major importance in Europe, and we wish to continue working together with the Greek government to protect the country’s uniqueness, to be a great place to live and to travel,” said CLIA Director General Europe Marie-Caroline Laurent.

During the meeting, the improvement and upgrade of port infrastructure and port services was also discussed, and it was noted that homeporting activities represent a great economic opportunity for the country, with around 70 percent of vessels calling in Greek ports homeporting this year.

Focusing on the decarbonization of the cruise sector, CLIA shared that it has commissioned a “Cruise Investment Plan”, a study which will identify the needs for port infrastructure, and alternative fuels to achieve our decarbonization goals, to be completed in early 2025.

CLIA also emphasized the need for a carefully considered adjustment period in the increase of port dues in Greek ports and for revision of the national law concerning tender boat operations.

The association’s representatives also met with the Border Protection Directorate of the Greek Ministry of Civil Protection and discussed the implementation of the EU Regulation establishing an Entry/Exit System (EES) to register entry and exit data and refusal of entry data of third-country nationals crossing the external borders of the Member States, which will enter into force in November this year.