Greece’s cruise industry is on track to surpass 7 million passengers this year, marking an increase of approximately 20 percent compared to 2023, according to Union of Cruise Ship Owners and Associated Members (EEKFN) President Giorgos Koubenas.
According to EEKFN data, Greece last year saw 6,988,015 passengers and 5,231 cruise ship arrivals.
Speaking to Greek newspaper Naftemporiki, Koubenas highlighted the favorable conditions for Greece’s cruise market and noted that the ongoing crisis in the Red Sea is prompting many cruise lines to seek alternative destinations.
Koubenas anticipates that 2024 and 2025 will set consecutive records for passenger numbers, with the sector expected to grow by 22 percent in 2024.
In light of the sector’s rapid growth, EEKFN has proposed several measures to the Greek government. These proposals aim to facilitate smoother operations within the industry and address the challenges of overtourism in Greece’s most popular destinations, particularly the islands of Santorini and Mykonos.
To accommodate the rising demand for Greek cruises, the union advocates for increasing the number of cruise home ports across the country.
Additionally, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has expressed its readiness to cooperate in mitigating overtourism issues and expanding the number of ports of call, which currently exceeds 60.
