We will apply a new tax to cruise passengers in Greece. That is fine, if it is suitable and proportionate to the specific needs of the port, if applied to all visitors and if the revenues deriving from the from the tax will be directly reinvested in the activities ports and local communities. The tax was decided by the government in Athens and the reaction to the announcement is CLIA Europe, the European representation of Cruise Lines International Association, the association to which the world's leading cruise companies.

The proposal to introduce a tax on passengers on Cruise disembarking in a Greek port has been announced on Saturday by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis speaking at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition in the presence of the deputy Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs of Germany, Robert Habeck, in the context of a long speech focused mainly on on the measures to revive the economy taken in recent years and on the measures that will be introduced during his second term as prime minister that began over 12 months ago and will end in three years.

Referring to tourism in Greece, which this year marks new record, the prime minister said he was concerned about the impact that cruise activity has on some islands in certain months of the year. Mitsotakis explained that this is the reason why it was decided to impose a tax on cruise passengers who disembark in national ports, who - he specified - will be higher in Santorini and Mykonos (it should be be equal to 20 euros in the high season) and more low in other ports, and will vary according to the period of the year. The prime minister specified that a significant part of the revenue generated by the tax will return to the communities so that they can organize themselves in the best possible way and so that local infrastructures can support the weight of the flow summer tourism.

CLIA Europe's reaction today to the announcement of the first Minister was to highlight that in 2022 the Cruises contributed 1.4 billion euros to the Greek economy as well as recalling that CLIA has long been asking for more investments in Greek port infrastructure, working together also with the various national destinations to define a efficient planning of the arrival of cruise ships in the harbours. Saying what has not been said, but blatantly Implied, the cruise association underlined the huge contribution of cruises to the Greek economy, while the Greece would do little to modernize port infrastructure used by cruises, while it would be appropriate to start doing more. Furthermore, CLIA wanted to point out, perhaps, that the pressure of tourist flows on local communities is not entirely attributable to the cruises, which work with the same communities to adequately plan the landings of ship passengers.

Expressing the desire to continue the squeeze collaboration with the Greek government to support the activities sustainable tourism in the country, CLIA Europe has nevertheless expressed the hope that any new measures imposed by the government in Athens "is developed in close consultation with the municipalities with ports and local tourism stakeholders whose survival depends on cruise tourism".

In addition, CLIA Europe specified that any increase in port fees in force 'should be introduced with sufficient notice' and tax revenues "should be directly reinvested in the operations to ensure that the benefits are perceived by the local communities and visitors".

The cruise association then underlined that "the fee should be compared with other port fees in the Mediterranean region in order to ensure that Greek ports remain attractive and competitive. Furthermore - he further specified The Association - Port fees are regulated by the European and national legislation and should be in line with these principles".