Minister Kikilias has Greece’s Cruise Tourism High on Priority List

Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias on Tuesday reiterated the tourism ministry’s support to the cruise sector.

Following a meeting with the Union of Cruise Ship Owners and Maritime Agencies (EEKFN), Minister Kikilias tweeted that Greece can receive substantial added value from cruise tourism and offer a tourist experience that will include a number of the country’s tourism forms.

It is reminded that earlier this month Minister Kikilias had announced at the 85th TIF event that he is looking to transform the port of Thessaloniki into a home port and hub for cruise ships.

In this context, he intends to boost the city’s cruise tourism by including other forms of tourism, such as religious tourism, gastronomic tourism, wine roads, spa tourism, in the experience.

Thessaloniki, Greece. Photo Source: Visit Greece / H. Kakarouhas

Speaking of the project in a recent interview to Greek newspaper Kathimerini, Kikilias said that developing cruise tourism in Thessaloniki would significantly enhance the tourism potential of the wider area, especially now that the city has a more advanced international airport (Makedonia).

“With new infrastructure, interconnection with modern airports and a tourist experience that will integrate all forms of tourism, now is our opportunity,” he said.

“Greece’s advantage is the many and different options it can offer each visitor, depending on his/her preferences and interests,” the minister added.