Approximately 900 cruise ship arrivals with more than one and a half million passengers are expected in Mykonos this year, compared to 768 approaches with 1,290,000 passengers in 2024.
This was emphasized by the President of the Mykonos Port Fund, Ath. Kousathanas-Megas, speaking at the 2nd Orancon Travel Forum 2025, which took place last week in Athens with the participation of more than 200 representatives of the travel and cruise tourism industry.
Mr. Megas pointed out that this year’s new arrivals will further strengthen the local economy while providing a smoother and more comfortable experience for visitors without burdening the residents and other visitors of the island, thanks to the berth allocation system based on which there will be a smooth distribution of arrivals per day, without observing phenomena of overconcentration of ships and passengers. He also pointed out that it is a myth to claim that cruise ship passengers do not spend money during their tour of the places they disembark, and cited a CLIA survey according to which the average expenditure per passenger amounts to 124 euros.
He added: “For us at the Port Fund, the rational approach of ships, the security of our ports, the port infrastructure, and their smooth operation are priorities. At the same time, enhanced infrastructure to improve the passenger experience is a constant priority for the Mykonos Port Fund. For this reason, we continue to support the need for a balanced and not a 60-fold increase in passenger fees, along with the planning of new interventions that will further improve the experience of our passengers.”
Mr. Megas concluded: “The Mykonos Port Fund invests in targeted infrastructure projects and partnerships that not only decongest the port but also upgrade the overall functionality and aesthetics of the space.”
Cruising is an important opportunity for every tourist area
The President of the Port Fund then participated in a panel on the future of cruising in the Mediterranean and stressed that, in addition to stimulating the local economy, a cruise passenger’s acquaintance with the place, its history, civilization and culture, can also attract him to visit it in a second year as a visitor for holidays, with multiple benefits, of course. “Therefore – he added – in this case, we could say that cruising is an important opportunity for a tourist area, since it allows the visitor to get to know it on their own and up close”.
Six entry points
Mr. Megas, in terms of service and security, stressed that in Mykonos, there are six ISPS entry points, three in the old port and three in the new port of Mykonos, which prevents overcrowding.
“So when – he added – last year, we had 8 simultaneous arrivals with 18,000 passengers disembarking at the same time, you understand the burden that the Port Fund is receiving. Fortunately, however, we have modern technology boats and more than enough buses to help people and that is why there was no problem with transportation.
This year, thanks to the berth allocation system, there will be even better rationalization regarding the arrivals of cruise ships, and we will now have 5-6 cruise ships per day on some days, and this will contribute even more to the image of welcoming and serving people. “Especially for the security sector, we have hired 26 security personnel who cover the needs depending on the arrivals and together with the most modern control machines, I believe that there will be no issue with security, for which we spend over 2 million euros a year. We consider this to be our dut,y and this is what every tourist destination does to highlight and maintain its good reputation.”
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