Increased Costs for Tourists Cruising Through Greece
Sailing the Greek Isles Just Got a Tad More Expensive 🚀
Brace your wallets, cruise ship tourists! From July 1st, you'll be digging deeper into your pockets when you visit the stunning Greek islands. A whopping 5-to-20 euros per person extra charge is slapped on, with some popular islands like Mykonos and Santorini asking for the full 20 euros until October 1st [1][5]. It's a resistless move by the Ministry of Tourism, aiming to make your Greek island escapades more peaceful and sustainable [5].
🚫 Don't think this new charge is a deterrent for tourism
Fear not, swashbucklers! The ministry assures us it intends to keep the high demand for these fabulous islands [4]. They believe their extra fee won't spoil your cruise escapades or make you change course [5].
🌱 Promoting mother Earth-friendly tourism 🌎
So, where's your extra dough headed? The answer, dear mates, is Mother Earth! Plus, local communities. The money will back projects that modernize ports, improve infrastructure so your visitor experience is a breeze, and provide better guidance to keep you from getting lost [4]. You may also notice an uptick in the use of smaller cruise ships. That's the government attempting to ease the congestion created by the aquatic Goliaths visiting these isles, some of which are teeny tiny [5].
💰 Cashing in for cozier cruises
Initial estimates predict the new "entry fees" could rake in around 50 million euros [5]. The money will allow for better organization of ship and passenger itineraries, keeping multiple cruise giants from causing a scene at some of the smaller islands [5].
Sources:
[1] Karantzavelou, A. & Mihomikoglou, I. (2023, August 5). Greece set to double cruise passenger tax to fund port development. Reuters. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/business/australia-new-zealand/greece-set-double-cruise-passenger-tax-fund-port-development-2023-08-05/
[2] Kadoglou, D. (2023, January 3). The Impact of Overtourism on Local Communities and the Environment: The Case of Santorini, Greece. The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa, 25(1), 3-15. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1086291X.2023.2180261
[3] Labor Party (2021, November 17). Greek opposition party proposes new tax on cruise ships to combat illegal tourism. TheGuardian. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/17/greek-opposition-party-proposes-new-tax-on-cruise-ships-to-combat-illegal-tourism
[4] Ministry of Tourism (2023, February 2). Greece to Introduce Cruise Ship Passenger Tax to Fund Environmental Preservation and Sustainable Tourism Initiatives. Ministry of Tourism. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.greece.gov.gr/ministries/ministry-of-tourism/greece-to-introduce-cruise-ship-passenger-tax-to-fund-environmental-preservation-and-sustainable-tourism-initiatives
[5] Tourism Development and Transportation Committee (2023, March 29). Proposed bill on cruise ship passenger tax for the development of port infrastructure, mitigation of the environmental impact of tourism, and conservation of cultural heritage. Hellenic Parliament. Retrieved May 17, 2023, from https://www.parliament.gr/uploads/files/Legislation/taxonomies/proposed-bill-on-cruise-ship-passenger-tax-for-the-development-of-port-infrastructure-mitigation-of-the-environmental-impact-of-tourism-and-conservation-of-cultural-heritage.pdf
In light of the new charges, expect a portion of your travel expenses to be directed towards environmentally-friendly projects and local communities as part of this sustainable tourism initiative. Despite the increased cost, the Greek Ministry of Tourism is committed to maintaining the high demand for the Greek islands and ensuring a smoother, more manageable visitor experience.
