Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) Statement regarding Specific Tourism Management Measures in Greece

We appreciate the Government’s desire to ensure a balanced and sustainable tourism in Greece. We welcome the Minister’s comments on the importance of port infrastructure to improve tourism flows, and the wish to promote new destinations, which align with CLIA’s Action Plan for Greece, adopted last year. We also recognize the Government’s desire to increase home porting, given the substantial economic impact it brings.

At the same time, we encourage the Government to consider the potential economic impact of the new passenger fee on cruise tourism and reinforce our call for meaningful consultation with cruise operators, impacted municipalities, ports and tourism stakeholders.

In 2025, the new berth management systems will be in place in Santorini and Mykonos. We therefore urge the Government to apply the new fee from 2026 onwards allowing the impact of these systems to be taken into consideration.

We will continue working closely with the Government on sustainable tourism initiatives that benefit visitors and residents alike.

About the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)

CLIA is the world’s largest cruise industry trade association, providing a unified voice for the industry as the leading authority of the global cruise community. On behalf of its members, affiliates and partners, the organization supports policies and practices that foster a secure, healthy, and sustainable cruise ship environment, promoting positive travel experiences for millions of travelers who cruise annually. This year, CLIA forecasts that the annual number of passengers will reach 35.7 million passengers— surpassing 2019 levels. The CLIA community includes the world’s most prestigious ocean, river and specialty cruise lines; a widespread network of stakeholders, including ports and destinations, ship development, suppliers, and business services; and highly trained and certified travel agent members that represent the largest network of travel professionals specializing in cruise travel. Today, the CLIA-member fleet includes 303 ships and total capacity of 635,000 lower berths operated by 45 cruise line brands. The organization’s global headquarters are in Washington, DC, with regional offices located in North and South America, Europe and Australasia.