Deputy minister of shipping Stefanos Gkikas announced a €260 million (about $300 million USD) plan during the 5th Panhellenic Yachting Congress in Athens to upgrade ports and develop marinas across Greece’s islands, as demand for yachting continues to grow.
According to a report by Nikos Krinis of the Greek Travel Pages, the programme covers upgrades to 30 island ports. Funding includes €180 million ($207 million) from the NSRF “Transport 2021-2027” programme and €80 million ($92 million) from the Recovery and Resilience Fund. The upgrades aim to improve port operations, safety conditions and the overall experience for yacht users, and support local economies.
Plans also include adding more berthing space for larger vessels, through marina developments in Corfu, Kefalonia, Lefkada and Igoumenitsa. Additional sites mentioned are Imerolia, Spilia and Benitses.
The programme aims to improve conditions for both commercial and private vessels and strengthen maritime tourism as an important part of the national economy. It is part of a wider tourism strategy that includes digital updates and regulatory changes to support the sector.
