Review article

Liberalization assessment: The Greek cruise market

Evangelia Stefanidaki ; Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, University of the Aegean, Chios, Greece
Maria Lekakou ; Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport, University of the Aegean, Chios, Greece

Abstract

More than thirty years, after the metamorphosis of the cruise industry from an expensive type of vacation for the elite to an affordable alternative for the mass market, cruise shipping records high rates of growth. The Greek cruise market has been liberalized since 1999, when the Regulation of the European Commission 3577/92 came into force, allowing cruise ships flying European flags to operate in Greek waters and to use national ports as homeports. Restrictions were in force only for the non EU flagged cruise ships until 2010, when the Greek Government voted the National Law 3872/2010, which liberalized the market. Until the 1990s Greek companies were pioneers and very active in the international market. However, lately the shrinking of the Greek market is observed. Today, there is only one Greek Cypriot company with just two vessels under the Greek flag. At the same time Greece, according to the European Cruise Council (ECC, 2011) data, is among the top three most popular European destinations. The paradox is that only a slight percentage of cruise companies select Greek ports for home porting. The paper gives an overview of the Greek cruise industry, the cruise cabotage reform, focusing especially on the process and the different opinions expressed by the stakeholders. In addition, the process of deregulation and its potential impacts is evaluated from stakeholders’ viewpoint, particularly the effect on retaining and attracting cruise vessels under the Greek flag in the context of a national cruise policy.

Keywords

Greek cruise industry; cabotage reform; policy

Hrčak ID:

80776

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/80776

Publication date:

29.4.2011.

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