Page 70 - iGREECE_CRUISING DECEMBER 2023

There are also the benefits of expenditures op our product in this region.
by passengers during their stay, includ-
ing for services, food, entertainment, and And for hosting us today!
shopping.
Ladies and gentlemen, cruising is a sound
Every cruise tourist at the port of embarka- and compelling investment for coastal com-
tion typically spends more than 400 Euro, munities.
while the amount at the ports visited along
the ship’s itinerary is estimated to be at In fact, 6 out of 10 cruise travellers return
least 100 Euro a passenger. to the destinations they visited on a cruise
for longer stays.
Supplying, maintaining, and refuelling our
ships also adds more jobs at homeports. This generates opportunities for local busi-
nesses to develop and market their prod-
Many Greek ports and destinations are do- ucts and services to new, wider audiences.
ing great work to become more attractive
for cruise tourism. In turn stimulating the broader tourism in-
dustry for tour operators, ferry companies
Our hosts today deserve a special mention. and other players in the sector.

Thanks to their work and collaboration Today, as our industry moves into the next
with cruise lines, Thessaloniki is increasing- phase of its development, we are looking to
ly being included in itineraries. further extend our reach across the East-
ern Med.
This has the potential of bringing the broad-
er economic and job creation benefits of Greece has many destinations to visit, in-
cruise tourism to neighbouring states. cluding smaller islands, and we are proud
that we can discover them through seg-
I’d like to thank Mr Liagkos, the Chairman ments of our cruise industry like luxury and
of the Port Authority, for helping us devel- expedition, and promote them.

i GR E E C E TR A V E L