Posidonia Forum 2023: Expectations High for Cruise Tourism in Greece

Greece is as an important cruise hub in the Mediterranean, with great potential for further growth, Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Global Chair Pierfrancesco Vago said on Tuesday.

Giving the keynote speech on the first day of the 7th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum in Thessaloniki, Vago informed the audience that that the economic impact that cruise tourism brought to the country last year surpassed 1 billion euros and generated more than 15,000 jobs.

“In Greece today, the economic benefits from the tourists that come to these shores on cruise ships are already higher than in 2019,” he said, adding that the country’s performance follows “great work” by local authorities to increase homeporting operations in Greece.

According to Vago, last year, 47 of the 87 CLIA cruise ships that operated in Greece homeported – a 54 percent year-on-year increase.

MSC Cruises Executive Chairman and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Global Chair Pierfrancesco Vago. Photo © Greek Travel Pages (GTP)

“Homeporting brings the strongest economic benefits for any destination. It increases the time that tourists spend ashore both before and after the cruise, including demand for accommodation,” CLIA’s global chair said.

“Many Greek ports and destinations are doing great work to become more attractive for cruise tourism,” he added and made a special mention to Thessaloniki, the host destination for the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum for the first time.

“Our hosts today deserve a special mention… Thanks to their work and collaboration with cruise lines, Thessaloniki is increasingly being included in itineraries… This has the potential of bringing the broader economic and job creation benefits of cruise tourism to neighbouring states.”

A cruise ship in Thessaloniki. Photo source: Posidonia Exhibitions

Cruise tourism in Greece can go higher

Referring again to Greece, Vago said that after developing its homeporting capabilities, Greece now has an “extraordinary opportunity” to strengthen its position as a cruise hub in the region.

The key actions proposed are working together to: promote new destinations, create the right port infrastructure and operating environment, develop sustainable tourism practices, introduce onshore solutions to match environmental technologies deployed onboard and support development of new fuels, and build the skills of the next generation of seafarers.

‘We need to work together with the new Greek government’

MSC Cruises Executive Chairman and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Global Chair Pierfrancesco Vago. Photo © Greek Travel Pages (GTP)

Moreover, Vago said that collaboration is crucial to maintain the attractiveness of Greece as a cruise hub.

“We need to work together to ensure that ports have enough resources available to process passengers… Not only today, but when the new European border control rules of Entry-Exit System will be implemented and impact turnaround operations… It is crucial we join forces here the cruise industry, ports and the next government to ensure our guests from across the world can visit Greek destinations unimpeded and our crew can secure visas to serve them,” he stressed.

“We also encourage the next Greek Government to consider a legal framework to allow berth reservations for all maritime activities including cruise and ferry to ensure better and safer operations in light of IMO and EU regulations,” Vago added.

Piraeus: 2023 bookings for homeport cruise ships up by 43%

Regarding Greece’s largest port in Piraeus, prospects are high this year.

Piraeus Port, Greece. Photo source: Piraeus Port Authority.

Speaking during the forum, Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) SA Chairman Yu Zenggang said that the bookings for homeport cruise ships in Piraeus this year has reached 629, showing a 43 percent increase compared to 2022.

“Based on the 2023 pre-bookings the positive prospects will continue also in the next year,” Zenggang said, adding that in 2023 the PPA expects some 800 cruise ships in total to make port calls at Piraeus.

Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) SA Chairman Yu Zenggang (left) during a panel discussion at the 7th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum. Photo © Greek Travel Pages (GTP)

Moreover, Zenggang said that in the next two to three years the PPA will aim to complete a major project in the port of Piraeus – a new cruise terminal that will be able to manage and accommodate the largest cruise ships in the world that have a capacity of up to 9,000 passengers.

Last year was a record-breaking year for the Piraeus Port Authority, with both revenue and profitability at their highest-ever levels. In 2022, passenger traffic increased by 190 percent to 880,416 compared to 303,665 in 2021. Cruise ship berthing also rose by 79 percent to 677 berths compared to 379 a year earlier, exceeding pre-Covid 2019 levels.

Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) SA Chairman Yu Zenggang. Photo © Greek Travel Pages (GTP)

Held by Posidonia Exhibitions S.A., the 7th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum welcomed over 40 exhibitors and 60 high-profile speakers who discussed the challenges the industry is currently facing.

The Greek Travel Pages (GTP) is a media sponsor for the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum 2023.