Sea Tourism

The value-added tax (VAT) charged on Greek passenger ferry tickets may be reduced soon, according to an announcement made by Merchant Marine Minister Militadis Varvitsiotis.

ANEK Lines announced it will exhibit the artwork of the children from the Hatzikonsta Foundation during its journeys.

In the field of tourism, priorities under Greece’s Presidency of the Council of the EU will include a special focus on maritime and coastal tourism, package travel and the current visa policy.

Cruise traffic in Piraeus this year is expected to rise by 12 percent and passenger traffic to reach nearly 2.31 million, according to the Piraeus Port Authority.

The Greek Marinas Association (GMA) has reported a number of departures of foreign-owned yachts due to the new charges imposed since the start of the year on recreational vessels.

A number of Greek yachting professionals involved in the Charter, Brokerage, Management, Insurance and Construction of large yachts recently announced the establishment of the Greek Yachting Association (GYA).

Vaggelis Stouraitis, captain of the “Prevelis” ship of ANEK Lines, was recently honored for his excellent cooperation with the Thera Port Authority, Santorini.

The Heraklion Port Authority held an event on 20 December to welcome the MSC FANTASIA, the last cruise to dock at the port for 2013.

The Greek Yachting Association has announced the 2014 Mediterranean Yacht Show in which more than 80 EU-flagged Charter Superyachts are expected to be exhibited.

Greece’s new Zoning Plan for Tourism provides for an increase in the network of marinas, small ports and harbors in the Ionian Sea, the eastern and southeastern Aegean, and the Saronic, Argolikos and Pagasitikos gulfs, among others.