Cruises can make a significant contribution to the growth of tourism in Greece over the next few years, Alternate Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura said on Wednesday, while attending the first inaugural session of the National Coordinating Committee for Cruises held at the Piraeus Port Authority.
She noted that the new committee could be a valuable tool in the national effort to develop marine tourism and the cruise market, noting that all sides must join together in a targeted and coordinated effort to tackle the challenges, exploit opportunities and produce the best results.
Greece had ‘won the wager’ for the development of its sea tourism in 2015, despite the difficulties of that year, with arrivals increasing to 26 million from 22 million in the previous year and revenues rising to 14.5 billion euros, from 13 billion euros in 2014, Kountoura said.
The minister noted that 2016 would be another difficult year due to external and unforeseeable factors that were beyond Greece’s control and would have to be managed.
Shipping and Island Policy Minister Thodoris Dritsas also pointed to the huge potential of cruise tourism in Greece and highlighted the need for cooperation. Replying to criticism that the committee was overly large and unwieldy, he noted that such a body should primarily not be inclusive and democratic. He noted that its role would be focused more on planning future strategy than analysing past performance.
During Wednesday’s inaugural meeting, attended by 28 representatives of private and public sector bodies, the Committee outlined its framework of operation. According to sources, it was agreed that it should convene four times a year and set up an executive committee of seven members to coordinate and manage the issues and mode of operation of specific working groups.
The Executive Committee will include two general secretaries from the shipping and tourism ministries, a representative from the interior ministry, one from the naval chamber, one from the Union of Ports of Greece and one from the Union of Cruise Ship Owners and Shipping Bodies (EEKFN).
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