Sea Tourism

Cruise travel to Greece is picking up pace albeit slowly after a major drop last year due to the geopolitical situation in Turkey, Egypt and Israel.

Ferries in Greece will remain docked on Friday, January 12, 2018, due to a 24-hour strike called by the Pan-Hellenic Seamen’s Federation (PNO).

Cruise ship arrivals to Greek ports recorded a 20.5 percent drop in 2017, compared to the year before, according to the Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME).

The Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) is aiming to attract cruise passengers to explore the city during their stay in Piraeus.

Extending the tourism season, improving the tourist experience, boosting private investments and port upgrades are basic for the development of cruise travel.

A Protocol of Cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt that aims to strengthen cruise tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean was signed in Larnaca.

Greece’s state privatization fund has launched two separate international public tenders for concessions for the marinas in Alimos and on Chios.

A levy to be imposed on all types of sea craft, the so-called recreational and day boat tax or TEPAI, will further burden marine tourism, sector professionals say.

Secretary General for Ports, Port Policy and Maritime Investment Christos Lambridis recently visited Heraklio on Crete, to inaugurate the port’s new cruise terminal.

The need to update the General Port Regulation and improve the mooring of cruise ships at Greek ports was the focus of a Shipping Ministry workshop.

Greece’s fleet is the global leader in terms of cargo carrying capacity (dwt), according to the UNCTAD Review of Maritime Transport 2017.

Attica Group reached an agreement with Minoan Lines, owned by Grimaldi Group, to acquire its 48.53 percent stake in Hellenic Seaways.

Extending in 2018 a visa regime that will apply to non-Schengen visitors traveling on cruise ships topped the agenda of an inter-ministerial meeting this week.

Greece will be represented on the new Board of Directors of MedCruise, the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports, by the ports of Piraeus, Volos and Corfu.

A ban on all Greece-bound Turkish-flagged boats was lifted, following a meeting between Greek Shipping Minister Panagiotis Kouroublis and Turkish Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan.

Turkey’s Transport Minister Ahmet Arslan will arrive in Athens to discuss the decision to ban all Turkish-flagged yachts from travelling to Greece.

Turkey expressed its wish to lift a ban on Greece-bound yachts and ferries when the country’s transport minister, Ahmet Arslan, visits Greece this month.

Aiming to make Syros more accessible, the island’s mayor George Maragos recently met with professionals in order to explore ways of increasing ferry services.

Making Greece a home port for luxury liners and securing strategic investments are crucial to a robust cruise travel sector, according to diaNEOsis.

North Aegean Governor Christiana Kalogirou is calling for immediate action in order for Turkey’s ban on Greece-bound yachts, sailboats and ferries to be lifted.