Minister at Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum: Greece is open for cruise industry business
The Greek government has signaled its intentions to adopt a public private partnership model drive in order to improve critical port and air infrastructure required to help the country optimize its full potential as a destination of choice for global cruise liners and passengers.
Speaking at the opening day of the 4th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, Greek Minister of Shipping and Insular Policy, Panagiotis Kouroumplis, said that Greece is prepared to launch a concessions campaign in order to encourage international cruise liners operating in Greece to invest in relevant infrastructure projects.
“This initiative would help encourage cruise liners to partner with the Greek government and expedite a raft of projects which would otherwise require much longer completion timeframes,” said the Minister.
“We want to unite the peoples of this region through initiatives that promote peaceful coexistence in order to jointly leverage our comparative advantages and the government is fully supportive of the concept of a public private partnership model that would be mutually beneficial to all involved parties,” he added.
The Forum is attended by the world’s most prominent sea tourism decision makers who debate the future potential of the Eastern Mediterranean in the face of adversity emanating from the recent geopolitical conflicts in Greece’s neighbouring markets of Turkey, the Levant and Egypt where local tensions have kept cruise passengers away.
“Guests tell us where to deploy our ships as we need to take our vessels where revenue opportunities make our business financially viable,” said Larry Pimentel, President & CEO of Azamara Club Cruises.
“Greece needs to start thinking out of the box and try to promote the authentic and the unconventional, look beyond the iconic, traditional destinations and create new, alternative products that offer fresh, innovative, deeper connections for cruise line guests. And the Greek government’s commitment to the cruise sector’s development could be the catalyst for the creation of a common vision and a corresponding plan to work closely together in creating these new experiences,” added Pimentel.
Michel Nestour, Vice President, Global Port and Destination Development, Carnival Corporation & PLC, agrees that Greece needs to reinvent its cruise offering in order to take advantage of its current position. “It is the right time for Greece to promote the rest of the country beyond the famous destinations in order to tap into the vast potential of the cruise industry. Santorini and Mykonos are not the only great Greek destinations and Greece needs to promote more destinations, especially through social media, which do not require an increased budget. ”
Political and security issues
Just two percent of the global population has ever taken a cruise, and a vast potential of it sits in Asia and China in particular, according to Tom Fecke, Secretary General, CLIA Europe. “Greece must reach out to China and promote itself as a destination in great detail and differentiate it from other neighbouring troubled destinations. It also needs to invest in enhancing its existing infrastructure to prepare it for the influx of the new builds for over 4,000 passengers which will account for more than half of the estimated 230,000 guest additional capacity projected to enter in the period between 2020-2026.
The political and security issues that have affected the growth of cruise industry in the region were also discussed at length during the forum’s first day, prompting Pullmantur’s President & CEO Richard Vogel to comment on his company’s decision to remove Turkey’s Marmaris port from its itinerary until further notice, a fate that has also afflicted other major Turkish ports of calls such as Kusadasi. “So Greece has the advantage of political stability and if it works hard to reinvent its offering, invest in its infrastructure and diversify its product portfolio it has a great chance to grow its homeporting and guest volumes. The question remains what Greece will do to maintain the extra business it now enjoys, when Turkey and the other countries of the region open again for business.”
Infrastructure barriers on both blue and shore sides need to come down if Greece wants to reap the benefits according to Kristijan Pavic, President, Med Cruise. “Greece needs to invest in capacity and efficiency issues in terms of port infrastructure and operational efficacy as well as promote its offerings to the emerging Chinese markets. Together with a berth allocation system and a focus on sustainability and cooperation, Greece could have a better future as a destination of choice for cruise operators and passengers alike.”
The ability to react to projected capacity strains could pose a major obstacle to growth according to Emre Sayin, CEO, Global Ports Holding, who said that the capacity of the global cruise industry in the next five years will increase by 42%. “So investment in ports is essential to improve efficiencies, passenger flow, health and other facilities and for this to happen successfully, a detailed traffic impact analysis and destination improvement plan is a prerequisite. Such planning can take as long as five years according to Ana Karina Santini from the Royal Caribbean – Celebrity Cruises – Azamara Club Cruises who are keen investors in port development projects of high return potential in strategic growth locations.
“In conclusion, Greece offers a very lucrative investment opportunity for the world’s cruise industry and from what we have heard in today’s forum from the Greek government authorities and the cruise line industry’s decision makers, the potential of a future collaboration in local infrastructure projects is likely to happen as intentions are very evident from both sides”, said Theodore Vokos, Executive Director, Posidonia Exhibitions S.A, the organisers of the Forum.
Read more here.
RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report
16/03 13:01
Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens
16/03 12:56
Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto
16/03 11:28
Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres
15/03 21:50
Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania
15/03 13:45
PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece
15/03 12:55
Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation
14/03 23:43
President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava
14/03 22:58
American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024
14/03 22:52
Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures
14/03 22:49
US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki
14/03 22:43
Greek archaeologists discover ten ancient shipwrecks off Aegean island of Kasos
14/03 19:32
No new intubations for Covid-19 recorded in Greece for the first time
14/03 18:36
Extra road safety measures adopted for Greek pre-lent carnival and Clean Monday
14/03 14:48
14/03 12:54
Electric buses to be deployed on the streets of Athens and Thessaloniki by May
13/03 22:23
13/03 20:11
Prices of basic lenten products either lower or equal to last year's in Greece
13/03 19:15
US Ambassador to Athens: Greece secures NATO readiness via Alexandroupolis
13/03 17:19
13/03 12:26
Greece shows new costumes for revamped Olympic Flame-lighting ceremony
12/03 22:46
Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’
12/03 21:38
The President of the Hellenic Republic to visit Slovakia on March 13-15
12/03 20:29
First afternoon surgeries in Greece kick off at Papageorgiou Hospital in Thessaloniki
11/03 23:58
Greek Foreign Minister: We stand behind Montenegro's European perspective
11/03 23:47
Visa Express for Turkish citizens to commence on five Greek islands in March
11/03 19:40
11/03 18:49
Microsoft Data Center construction kicks off in Spata next to Athens Airport
11/03 17:53
Dodecanese Federation marked 76th Anniversary of Unification with Greece
09/03 22:23
08/03 14:27
Prime Minister: Radical change in Greek education and a brave reform for growth
08/03 14:24
Traffic restrictions expected in Athens mid-morning to evening on Friday due to protests
08/03 14:24
Applications to out-of-court settlement more than doubled in Greece in February
08/03 13:18
Metro station 'Maniatika' near Piraeus Port to be closed on Saturday and Sunday
07/03 14:12
Athens wins World Travel Award 2024 as the top city-break destination in Europe
06/03 22:51
WTTC data show Greece and Portugal lead league for growth in tourist arrivals
06/03 20:28
Greek Tourism Minister at ITB: 2024 will be another excellent year for sector
06/03 19:47
Greek Foreign Minister to meet UAE Minister of Industry and Technology on Friday
06/03 18:43
European Union actions of 274m euros to support cultural heritage in Greece
06/03 16:37
'Odontotos' rack railway temporarily stopped until landslides issue is resolved
06/03 14:40
Minister: Bringing about the return of Greeks abroad 'a moral duty'
05/03 14:28
Archdiocese of America Eparchial Synod to meet on March 14-17 in Florida
05/03 14:21
05/03 14:11
ITB BERLIN 2024 opens with excellent bookings after global rise in travel in 2023
05/03 12:24
Greek PM at Athens supermarket: Consumers 'can already see lower prices on the shelf'
04/03 22:02
Greek Health Minister: Afternoon surgeries at state hospitals to begin shortly
04/03 21:47
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Whitestone Community marks 49th Anniversary
04/03 20:27
Labor chief: Greece to train 500,000 workers in digital, green skills by 2025
04/03 19:44
Foreign Ministry to organize event on 'Women, Peace, and Security' on Friday
04/03 15:12
Athens Riviera | The summer experience with Athens as a background
29/02 22:54
Consumers to see price cuts up to 18.1% in 3,000 Greek supermarket products as of Friday
29/02 21:44
Greece and Germany set up Working Group on shipping cooperation
29/02 21:30
Wyndham Rewards’ Member Month offers 5 weeks of deals, discounts, and bonus points
29/02 21:03
Temple of Poseidon at Sounion near Athens to get new lighting system
29/02 21:02
29/02 20:47
Greece is represented by 60 firms at GULFOOD 2024 exhibition
29/02 19:58
Greek government gives 1+1 month extension for cash register-integrated POS terminals
29/02 19:49
Archangel Michael Church Dance Program shines at Folk Dance Festival in SF
29/02 15:39
'Renovate-rent' programme to be launched, Minister tells Greek Parliament
29/02 12:39
Rio-Antirrio ferry line in central Greece closed due to strong winds
28/02 21:34
Weather with heavy rain and storms in Greece as of Sunday night
28/02 17:31
CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe
28/02 17:04
New Wyndham Hotels Market Managing Director of Central and Eastern Europe
28/02 12:21
Minister: Transactions with the Greek State will be further simplified in 2024
28/02 11:57
27/02 17:25
UN Tourism hails Saudi Arabia's historic milestone of 100 million tourists
27/02 15:00
Greek Prime Minister: Relations with Armenia can become even more productive
27/02 14:26
Wyndham: New growth cycle in Greece for the largest hotel chain franchise in the world
27/02 13:15
Price cuts of up to 15% in important product categories in Greece after March 1
27/02 12:46
Athens taxi drivers' protest rally in progress from Athinon avenue to Messogion
26/02 18:30
Annual Summit of Women Political Leaders (WPL) to be held in Athens in April
26/02 18:27
Culture Ministry: Schwartz Mansion in Ampelakia near Larisa to get new lighting
26/02 17:25
Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion
26/02 16:33
Trapped rack-railway passengers returned safely to Diakopto in Peloponnese
26/02 16:21
Public transport, ferry and taxi strikes in Athens on Wednesday
25/02 12:30
Greek island of Ikaria among the Blue Zones for Health Eating and Longevity
24/02 20:39
Greek PM meets Qatar Emir: Focus on bilateral cooperation and investments
24/02 18:25
Prescription cannabis for medicinal use legally available in Greece for the first time
24/02 17:19
MInister: The aim is to make fishing and fish-farming a key pillar of the economy
23/02 23:36
Greek Prime Minister arrives in Doha to be received by Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi
23/02 23:26
The Festival of Greek Dances takes place in the Metropolis of San Francisco
23/02 21:32
Revealing "70 Years of Friendship: Greece's photo journey through the Korean War"
23/02 17:15
16 Greek firms showcase at international fashion exhibitions in London
23/02 14:09
Flights to and from Heraklion airport in Crete resume on Saturday
22/02 18:15
Bill for non-state, non-profit universities being tabled in Greek Parliament on Thursday
22/02 18:13
Temporary residence for displaced Ukrainians extended in Greece to March 2025
22/02 18:10
American Hellenic Institute Golden Jubilee celebration Includes concert on April 12
22/02 18:09
Tourism Minister stresses importance of strong relationship of Greece with Serbia
22/02 17:58
Education protest rally ends and traffic resumes in Athens city center
21/02 19:47
Twistic and WeavAIR startups clinch the UN Tourism Hospitality Challenge
21/02 18:34
21/02 18:13
Traffic in Athens returning to normal after tractors depart from the Greek capital
21/02 13:01
Greek Tourism Minister in Belgrade for International Exhibition
21/02 00:55
Resilience through diversity and investments the aim of UN Tourism visit to Jamaica
20/02 23:38
Rally concludes with farmer tractors leaving Athens on Wednesday morning
20/02 20:43
Greek Prime Minister on official visit to India as of Wednesday
20/02 16:51
Minister: Greece wants to become India's gateway to the European Union
19/02 21:19
DEFEA Conference to be held at Stavros Niarchos Foundation in Athens on May 15
19/02 19:06
Traffic restrictions for farmers' rally in central Athens on Tuesday
19/02 18:11
Greece wins top tourist destination award at Grand Travel Awards in Sweden
19/02 14:23
Health Minister: Option of afternoon surgeries at public hospitals start in Greece
Greek-Canadian Diaspora to welcome Greek Prime Minister to Toronto
PM: More than 80 hospitals and 156 health centres being upgraded in Greece
US Ambassador to Athens: More flights from the United States to Greece and Thessaloniki
American Express report highlights Global Travel Trends during 2024
Greek Migration Minister visits refugee hosting facilities in Kavala, Drama and Serres
President of Hellenic Republic meets Prime Minister of Slovakia in Bratislava
Four hospitals in Attica Region already organizing afternoon surgical procedures
Piraeus Port and Genoa Chambers of Commerce ink memorandum of cooperation
Greek Minister announces conference on defence ecosystem in Athens from Lithuania
Greek Deputy Foreign Μinister meets her Slovenian counterpart in Athens
Greek retail sector turnover exceeds last year's figures with €4 billion in December
Epirotes Society of Philadelphia ‘Omonia’ organized 16th Annual ‘Tsipourovradia’
Greek Prime Minister to meet Bulgarian counterpart at Maximos Mansion
IOBE forecasts 2.4% growth and 10.5% unemployment in Greece during 2024
Impressive statue of Hercules unearthed in Philippi of Northern Greece
Athens International Airport makes spectacular debut on Athens Stock Exchange
PM at Axia discussion: Greece offering great investment opportunities in 2023
Volcano lights up in spectacular display of fireworks on Greek island of Santorini
Inspirational project promoting Hellenism and love for Greece globally (video)
Greek president organizes reception for diplomats at Presidential Mansion
CEO: The goal is for PPC to become a leading player in Southeast Europe
Golden Visa bonus for foreigners buying luxury homes at Ellinikon in Athens
Development Minister: Supermarket food prices will start dropping in Greece in March
Sudden cold in Greece gives olive oil producers hope for better crop