The Cruise Strains Worldwide Affiliation (CLIA) has voiced sturdy issues relating to Greece’s plan to introduce new cruise passenger charges for island locations similar to Santorini and Mykonos.
CLIA Questions Objective of New €20 Cruise Passenger Price
In its official assertion, CLIA challenged the rationale behind the proposed €20 payment for cruise passengers throughout peak season. The affiliation urged Greek authorities to allocate the revenues particularly in the direction of cruise-related group enhancements.
CLIA emphasised that funds raised by way of this payment must be reinvested into port operations, benefiting each native communities and companies reliant on cruise tourism.
“The cruise sector is successful story for Greece, contributing €1.4 billion to the financial system in 2022. Any improve in port charges must be proportional and aligned with the particular funding wants of every port.”
Prime Minister Outlines Infrastructure Funding Plans
Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, introduced that a part of the income from the brand new charges would go in the direction of native infrastructure tasks to accommodate the inflow of vacationers.
CLIA Requires Collaborative Growth of New Measures
CLIA expressed hope that any new rules will likely be developed in shut session with native municipalities, ports, and tourism stakeholders, whose livelihoods are instantly tied to cruise guests.
The affiliation additionally urged {that a} uniform payment must be utilized to all guests, not singling out the cruise business. “It might be extra equitable to use the payment uniformly to all vacationers,” CLIA said, including that the payment must be benchmarked in opposition to different Mediterranean ports to make sure Greek ports stay aggressive.
Cruise Ship Limits Being Thought-about for Well-liked Islands
In a current press briefing, Prime Minister Mitsotakis acknowledged that fashionable vacationer locations like Santorini and Mykonos are nearing capability in vacationer volumes.
“The cruise business has positioned vital strain on these islands. We at the moment are reaching some extent the place the infrastructure is being examined,” the Prime Minister stated.
In 2024, a number of European ports, together with Santorini, Mykonos, Venice, Dubrovnik, and Barcelona, have launched or revised passenger charges to handle sustainability and infrastructure challenges.
