Greek Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni on Monday announced the introduction of a fee for cruise passengers who disembark at Greek ports, set at 20 euros per passenger for the popular destinations of Mykonos and Santorini and at five euros in other parts of the country during high season (June 1 – September 30). This fee will be reduced by 40% in April and May and by 80% between November and March.
Kefalogianni said the measure is expected to bring 50 million euros in additional revenues and part of this will be added to the tourism ministry budget, to be used for improvements in tourism infrastructure and to upgrade the country’s tourism product.
This will be accompanied by a series of actions to further develop the cruise sector in Greece, such as building infrastructure and incentives to attract smaller ships with high-income passengers, among others.
The minister also presented details of the Resiliency Fee charged in tourist accommodation and short-term leases from April until October, saying that the sums raised will go toward measures for the prevention and recovery from natural disasters and improved infrastructure to support Greece’s tourism product.
Lastly, she said that fees for smaller short-term lease properties will increase during the low season as well, ranging from 0.5-2 euros per day, while it will increase to 8.00 euros per day between April and October. In addition, no new short-term leases will be permitted in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd municipal quarter of Athens for one year, with a possibility of extending the ban further.
