Piraeus Port Authority is investing Euro 294mn over a five-year period to upgrade its existing infrastructure and help it increase its competitiveness in the lucrative East Med cruise sector. Details of the specific plans were presented during the opening day of the 4th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum by Theodora Riga, Manager of Strategic Planning & Marketing Department, PPA.

A significant part of this investment will support Greece’s cruise sector as they include the expansion of the Southern port with capacity for four new cruise berths, up to 400m each for new generation ships. The plans also include the development of hotels, shopping malls, restaurants and other auxiliary services designed to establish Piraeus Port as a key East Mediterranean cruise line homeport.

“The planned infrastructure improvements will benefit the cruise sector overall by providing best-in-class customer service experience to the operators of the cruise ships as well as by enhancing the overall experience of their guests,” said Ms. Riga.

“New value added services for the cruise lines and passengers are at the core of Piraeus Port Authority’s vision to promote overall product awareness in the Chinese market and act as a facilitator to capture higher volumes of tourists from the Far East.”

Currently, Piraeus possesses a total of 2.8kms in quay length with a draft of up to 11m tide free. It has between 9-11 simultaneous berthing places. The expansion plans would add a further 1,65kms of quay length further strengthening the Port’s capacity by roughly 50 percent.

The 4th Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Maritime Affairs & Insular Policy and is supported by the Hellenic Chamber of Shipping, the Association of Mediterranean Cruise Ports (MEDCRUISE), the Hellenic Port Association (ELIME), the Hellenic Professional Yacht Owners Association, the Greek Marinas Association, the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies, the Union of Cruise Ship Owners & Associated Members, the Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies (HATTA). Gold Sponsor is the Greek National Tourism Organisation. Silver Sponsors are the Piraeus Port Authority and Air France – KLM – Delta. Bronze Sponsors are the Athens International Airport, Aktina Travel Group, Celestyal Cruises, Global Ports Holding, the Hellenic Motor Museum and Hellenic Seaways. Supporters are Everest, Municipality of Ios Island and TRU Catering by Radisson Blu Park Hotel.