The reactions of the president of the Mykonos Municipal Port Fund, Athanasios Kousathanas-Megas, after a similar sharp intervention by the mayor of Mykonos, Christos Veronis, were provoked by the reference by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the term “Mykonization” in relation to cruising in Greece.
If the so-called “de-Mykonization” implies that the country does not need the destination, we wonder what the development that the government has in mind for cruising and for tourism, in general, may be, says Mr. Kousathanas-Megas in a statement, calling on the prime minister to review his stance towards Mykonos.
Read the announcement…
“The repeated use of the term “demyconization” by many, and recently by the Prime Minister himself, not only targets a destination that contributes the most to the national economy, but especially for cruises, it constitutes, along with Santorini, a pole of attraction for structuring tourism programs from which other Aegean islands also benefit.
We do not understand this logic or the reasoning that dictates it. Even more so when we find that the country’s Prime Minister is adopting it, apparently led astray by incorrect suggestions. And it is sad to hear exhortations from official lips to shift visitors’ preferences to other places, at a time when the choice of a destination is the exclusive right of the visitor himself and not of any government official.
We remind everyone that, according to recent official studies, cruise tourism alone contributes approximately 201 million euros annually to Mykonos, with passengers and crews boosting the local – and therefore the national – economy, while supporting thousands of jobs on the island. Especially for the latter, we point out that cruise tourism supported 2,930 jobs in 2024, generating 46 million euros in wages in both retail and wholesale trade of all categories.
At the same time, cruise tourism acts as a “vestibule of repeat tourism”, as six out of ten travelers state that they would return to Mykonos later.
So if the so-called “demykonization” implies that the country does not need the destination that constitutes one of the strongest pillars of Greek cruising, representing over 15% of the total activity nationwide, we wonder what development the government may have in mind for cruising and for tourism, in general.
Those who “shoot” Mykonos must at some point realize that this island has been a pillar of the country’s reputation throughout time, recognized and awarded by international media and a magnet for personalities from all over the world from all sectors of social and professional activity. And as this year has proven, beyond the logical questions raised by the unfair imposition of a fee of 20 euros per passenger only for Mykonos and Santorini, it did not deter visitors to the island who once again showed their preference for the “Island of the Winds”.
We call on the Prime Minister to review his stance towards Mykonos, which rightfully holds high the flag of Greek tourism, and not to be carried away by suggestions that, in essence, try to support this flag at the expense of the effort and sacrifices of our parents and all of us who live in this place.”
