High Cruise Passenger Levy Could ‘Diminish’ Mykonos’ Competitiveness, Says Port Authority

Photo source: Municipal Port Authority of Mykonos

The Municipal Port Authority of Mykonos has raised concerns about the potential impact of an announced high cruise levy charged to passengers visiting the island.

In a letter to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the port authority highlighted the potential consequences of the high fee, which it fears could negatively affect both the cruise tourism industry and local community of Mykonos.

The port authority expressed surprise and worry over the sudden announcement of the 20-euro fee without prior public consultation. They acknowledged the need for fee adjustments but criticized the proposed 60-fold increase (from 0.35 to 20 euros) per person as unprecedented.

The authority warned that such a steep increase could “diminish” Mykonos’ competitiveness as a cruise destination, potentially harming the local economy. They noted that while Venice implemented a similar measure with the aim of increasing public revenues, it did not effectively address the issue of tourist overcapacity.

In response to overtourism concerns, Mykonos has introduced a berth allocation system in collaboration with cruise companies, which will limit daily arrivals to five or six ships starting next year. This system aims to mitigate the pressures of overtourism.

The port authority emphasized that any additional revenue from increased fees should be reinvested in port infrastructure and sustainable development to maintain Mykonos’ competitiveness. They also requested that any fee hikes be aligned with those at other nearby ports and implemented gradually.