He is on his way to a new record the country cruise as reported by the president of the Union of Cruise Ship Owners and Shipping Agencies (EECFN) Giorgos Koumbenas in “NEA”.
He appeared optimistic about the course of the industry in 2024 by examining data from various ports in the country and especially from the largest port in the country, Piraeus, which set the tone, while adding that the bag -on record also means more income for the national economy and the public fund.
“In the first five months, according to the data of the port of Piraeus, we have 179 cruise ship arrivals compared to 166 arrivals in the corresponding period of 2023,” he said in “BALITA”, “one a fact that means an 8% increase in the number of arrivals.
At the same time, from the beginning of the year to the end of May, 80,805 transit passengers (passing) and 46,151 disembarked and 47,867 passengers were registered at the port of Piraeus, recording a 14% increase compared to in 2023 in homeporting. passengers (boarding, disembarking) and a total of 7% approx.
In our estimation, throughout the year there will be an increase in ships arriving at all ports in the country by 10% and in passengers by 12%-15%, which means that we will reach new records, as passengers (arrival at each port) will reach 8 million as cruise passengers will reach 7,003,150 in 2023 while ship calls will reach 6,000 as in 2023 they will reach 5,230”.
Increase in income
“The upward movement of cruises also means an increase in revenues for the economy of Greece and the State” added Mr. Koumbenas and gave the example of the revenues obtained by the port funds of the various islands.
At the same time, he noted that this year these revenues will be higher, because the payment for each passenger for port security now amounts to 2.5 euros per passenger after the publication of the relevant gazette, which until now has been one only one euro per passenger.
Commenting on the Prime Minister’s statements to Bloomberg about the measures to prevent cruise ships in some islands, he noted that some measures have already been taken, such as in Santorini and added that in any case the any decision should be made after consultation with the industry.
It should be noted that according to data from the Bank of Greece in 2023 the total receipts from cruise passengers increased by 84.1%, compared to 2022, and amounted to 908.4 million euros, of which 61.0 million Euros were included in data recorded in the Border Survey, because they are concerned with travelers leaving Greece (last port), while Euro 847.4 million represents the additional revenues recorded in the additional survey.
The total overnight stay of passengers outside of cruise ships increased in 2023 by 121.5% compared to 2022 and amounted to 9,421.9 thousand overnight stays, positively affecting the formation of cruise receipts.
The rise of the cruise market in our country is due to the beauty of the destinations and the fact that Greece is considered a safe country compared to what is happening in our wider neighborhood.
Internationally, however, every record in the history of the cruise industry is expected to be surpassed by 2024, as estimated by Theodoros Kontes, honorary president of the Union of Cruise Shipowners and Shipping Agencies (EEKFN).
In the year 2023, a movement of 31.7 million passengers was recorded worldwide, which has already surpassed the high results of 2019 by about 7%, with a view for 2024 to expect a further increase of 8% We also expect in the year 2028 a corresponding annual further increase from 8% to 10%.
In the year 2024, the industry is predicted to exceed 34 million cruise passengers, perhaps closer to 35 million, said T. Kontes.
The global passenger capacity, as estimated by the honorary president of EEKFN, is expected to increase from 677,000 beds in the year 2024 to 745,000 in 2028. New constructions have returned to pre-coronavirus levels. Growth is also seen in small luxury cruise ships (expeditions) as well as medium-sized ships. Mega cruisers continue to be built but in smaller numbers than in the pre-Covid era.