To work together for this sustainable future of cruise tourism of the island, the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and the Mayor of Thira, Mr. Nikolaos Zorzos, agreed during a meeting in Santorini.
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CLIA recognizes that managing cruise tourism in Santorini is a priority for the Greek industry, as outlined in the CLIA Action Plan for Greece, presented last year. The Mayor of Thira, Mr. Nikolaos Zorzos, said: “We are pleased that the Municipality of Thira discussed and agreed with CLIA on solutions for the sustainable operation of the cruise industry in Santorini, with a view to protecting the uniqueness of our area and the passenger experience ».
On her part, Ms. Maria Deligianni, representative of CLIA in Greece, said: “Santorini is a special and extremely popular place, and we share the opinion recently expressed by the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, about the importance of responsible that manages tourism on the island. Mayor Nikolaos Zorzos has been clear to us since the beginning of this season about his intention to strictly enforce the current daily cap of 8,000 cruise visitors, based on 75% cruise ship occupancy, and we support that position , recognizing the peculiarities of Santorini. Although we believe that a holistic approach is needed to deal with tourist flows on the island, we are especially happy to be first partnering with the Municipality of Thira for the sustainable future of the area.
Limited to 8,000 guests in Santorini
At the meeting, CLIA confirmed that since the initial introduction of the daily cap of 8,000 cruise guests in 2018, cruise lines have remained steadfast in implementing the rules set by local authorities. .
Ms. Deligianni added: “Like in Mykonos, so in Santorini we support local efforts to implement a berth management system, framed by a transparent berthing policy, with clear rules and regulations. This is the only way to effectively manage and distribute cruise ship arrivals and departures on a daily and weekly basis.”
CLIA’s commitment to the Santorini targets is part of the Cruise Industry Action Plan for Greece, launched last year, which aims to maximize the benefits of local communities from cruising while offering passengers a experience that meets the high expectations of those visiting Greece.
Cruise ship management system
Although the development of tourism, including cruises, brings significant economic benefits to Greece, the CLIA Plan recognizes that this development may require new forms of cooperation, such as of changes in routes or port operations, as well as closer cooperation in the development of tourism management. practice destinations. These interventions include the adoption of berth management systems at the local level to better plan cruise ship arrivals and departures, the development of port infrastructure and ports for better itinerary planning. , as well as the opening of new destinations.
At the meeting, various issues were also discussed, including the possible development of additional interfaces on the island, as well as ways to improve the operation of cruise ships in Santorini, representing CLIA, Ms. Maria Deligianni, Eastern Mediterranean Director, and Mr. Nikos Mertzanidis, Vice President Ports and Destinations.
From the side of the island, the Mayor of Thira, Mr. Nikolaos Zorzos, the President of the Municipal Port Fund, Mr. Georgios Nomikos, the President of the Municipal Council, Ms. Georgia Nomikou, and the Mayor’s Special Advisor, Mr. Anastasios Konidaris participated.