Intensive efforts to boost cruise tourism in Greece in 2017, are being made by the Minister for Tourism, Elena Kountoura, in the light of the potential threat of geopolitical turbulence in our region and in particular, in Turkey and the Middle East.
The general picture for cruise tourism this year shows that as a Country, we will end 2017 at pretty much the same levels of arrivals as in 2016, but on a local level, Agios Nikolaos will see a reduced number of cruise ships docking in the port.
Returning from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and this year’s International Cruise Exhibition, “Seatrade Cruise Global”, Mrs. Kountoura was smiling, due to the indications that she saw. Leading the stand of the National Tourism Organisation (EOT), The Minister believes that the anticipated loss from cruise tourism, will not be as serious as has been forecast so far.
In presentations to International Cruise Companies and tour operators, she explained the Greek Masterplan to develop cruise tourism, with the Port of Piraeus as a home port, being the key to growth, alongside the continued increase in interest from the Asian market and China in particular.
At the Ministry for Tourism, the conviction that Piraeus can become the basic hub for all cruises in the Mediterranean, is feasible. With the new direct flights to Athens, from Seoul, Peking and Singapore, and the personal contacts of Mrs. Koundoura, with airline giants such as Emirates, creating an environment that will make that target possible, for Greece.
The Minister presented the classic and always popular Greek cruise ship destinations, which are the Ionian Islands, Crete, the Cyclades and Rhodes, but also the developing destinations of the Peloponnese, Volos, Rethymnon and Kavala. In the stormy waters of the Eastern Mediterranean, all of these Greek destinations offer safe choices.
Following the agreements sealed during the Seatrade Cruise Global 2017 and the initial estimates for a 30% drop in cruise ship and passenger arrivals, the bodies involved have now reviewed these figures upwards. Using the pre-bookings, the general programming that has now been finalised and the trends for last minute bookings, as a guide, the Ministry for Tourism now believes that this season will reach similar record levels of 2016, in terms of passengers and income.