Greece is set to upgrade its network of tourist ports through a 139-million euro investment in order to boost the country’s marine tourism sector, the Minister of Tourism announced.
Olga Kefalogianni, Greece’s Minister of Tourism, spoke at a conference organized by the Greek Marinas Association, where she highlighted Greece’s strong position in global marine tourism, citing advantages such as a favorable climate, extensive coastline, number of islands and maritime tradition.
The ports overhaul project, funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility, will include modernizing infrastructure, integrating digital services, improving accessibility and reducing environmental impact. So far, 28 investment projects have been approved and the upgrade includes the development of a digital platform which will be powered by AI and will track and manage marine tourism infrastructure.
Kefalogianni further noted that the government views marine tourism as a main pillar of the country’s economic growth, benefiting both national and local economies. She also highlighted recent legislative changes to facilitate marine infrastructure projects, such as increasing mooring capacity through floating docks.
The ministry has partnered with the World Tourism Organization to establish the Observatory for Coastal and Marine Tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean to monitor environmental, social and economic impacts of marine tourism.
“Greece fulfills all prerequisites to become a top, globally recognized marine tourism destination, based on diversity, quality and cutting-edge services,” Kefalogianni said.
Greece’s ports “antiquated” and “dangerous,” captains warned before ministry’s upgrade
In August 2024, a report released this week by the Panhellenic Union of Merchant Marine Captains (PEPEN) warned that many Greek ports are “antiquated and some of them are dangerous.”
The report described in detail with maps and photos the problems captains face to moor ships carrying hundreds of passengers safely every day, especially during the summer months.
Among the problems described are ports that serve thousands of cars without adequate spaces for parking, ports that over the years have lost their depth and make the approach of ships a precision exercise and the uncontrolled mooring of large yachts at the entrance of the harbors which make the approach of the cruisers look like “threading a needle.”
The report also noted passenger waiting areas in the ports are inadequate and in some cases non-existent. Passengers wait for long tomes with little if any shade.
PEPEN said that many of the problems sound as simple as changing bulbs in headlights and turn signals. However, their importance for security is great.
Other problems are much more complex such as the construction of new projectors or the dredging of their port basin.
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