Sea Tourism

Deputy Culture and Tourism Minister George Nikitiadis presented significant opportunities provided for cruise tourism and investments in Greek port projects, following the lifting of cabotage restrictions (currently in process by the Greek government), last month at the 8th Seatrade Med Cruise Convention in Cannes, France.

The Infrastructures, Transports and Networks Ministry announced last month its intention to establish waterways in Greece and attract seaplane companies to strengthen the transport of Greece’s border areas.

Thessaloniki is scheduled to be promoted as a cruise destination through a non-profit organization soon to be established by the city’s port authority, trade association and chamber of commerce and industry, the Greek press said last month.

The Piraeus Port Authority will proceed to a full upgrade of its services in 2011 in order for international cruise companies to respond in 2012 to the lifting of the cabotage restrictions for non-European Union-flag cruise ships, the port’s president and CEO, Yiorgos Anomeritis, told the Greek press last month.

“A new day is beginning for sea cruise and the country,” Maritime Affairs, Islands and Fisheries Minister Yiannis Diamantidis said in reference to the lifting of cabotage restrictions for non-European Union-flag cruise ships.

Nine Greek coasts, winners of the ‘Blue Flags’ international program for environmental education, information and awareness were dropped last month from the 2010 list and lost their award.

On 25 August the draft bill for the lifting of cabotage restrictions, drawn up by the Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Ministry, was signed into law. Non-European Union-flag cruise ships would now be permitted to homeport in Greece, under certain conditions.

The draft law for the lifting of cabotage restri­ctions, drawn up by the Economy, Competitiveness and Shipping Ministry, was tabled in Parliament on 20 July and was pending since then due to the August sum­mer break.

The professional yacht sector is experiencing perhaps its worst year as bookings for professional yachts with crew have dropped more than 80 percent this year compared to 2009, Antonis Steliatos, president of the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association, said.

Passenger traffic during July and August at the three major ports of Athens (Piraeus, Lavrion and Rafina) did not reach desired expectations despite tempting ticket discounts made by shipping companies to attract passengers, the Greek press said recently.