Rapid growth has been aware of sailing tourism in recent years Prevezawith a decisive role in the transformation of the city’s tourist profile, as it is gradually emerging as a new station on the Ionian map. Preveza is added to a strong network of marine destinations, such as Corfu and Lefkada, and to upgrade the overall experience. With a natural port, adequate infrastructure and strategic position, it is claiming a share of a rapidly growing sector and has the potential to substantially strengthen the local economy.

Speaking to the Athens and Macedonian News Agency for the industry’s strategy, the Mayor of Preveza, Nikos Georgakos, highlighted the substantial contribution of maritime tourism to the local economy:

“In recent years, after the licensing of an excellent and very beautiful marina inside the port of Preveza and the utilization of infrastructure in Aktio, we have reached very important numbers. Over 3,000 vessels are hosted in Aktio’s “parking spaces”, while regular flights from 53 destinations and 19 countries through Fraport airport have significantly increased traffic. ” According to the mayor, in 2019, about 3,000 vessels were recorded in 2019, while in 2024 that number exceeded 6,500 passages.

“This means that in Preveza, every night, our port functions as a hotel of 400 people. These visitors leave significant sums in the shops, in the local market, contributing vigorously to the economy of the area, “he said. Preveza has a marina in the city and three in Aktio, on the opposite side, used for parking and boat repairs. The city is extremely sailing -friendly, offering safety due to port morphology and easy navigation conditions, ideal for the Ionian Sea.

An indication of the development course is the increase in boat management companies, which have reached 17 in 2019 today, with their fleets exceed 180 vessels.

Infrastructure and new investments

The Municipal Authority did not remain inactive. Projects of 2m euros were implemented to upgrade the port, with pavement, electricity and water supply infrastructure for boats, and the redevelopment of the Marina land zone was completed. The next step is to modify the Master Plan to add new floating platforms and increase hosting capacity. “The companies operating here are demanding more positions each year. We have already studied studies to create a small marina at a new spot, “Mr Georgakos said.

High -level tourism and broader growth

The rise in sailing tourism also brings visitors to a higher economic level. Vessels worth hundreds of thousands of euros up to millions are driving in Preveza, giving new momentum to the city’s tourist profile. “The level of tourists who visit Preveza also changes. These are people who combine sailing with visits to beaches, historical monuments and local gastronomy, “he said.

The Preveza Marina has 250 vessels for up to 35 meters and has been operating since 2019. It has 100%complete completeness. As said by Mr. Vassilis Tefas, a spokesman for Tefas Group, owner of Marina Preveza and Vice President of the EMAE (Union of Marines of Greece), speaking to the Athenian-Macedonian News Agency, “there is a great presence in the area and there is a great presence in the area.

Among them is Cleopatra Marina, which is the largest facility in Greece with 1200 land deposits. Although geographically belongs to Aitoloakarnania, all the support is made by Preveza. The area of ​​Lefkada, Preveza, Palairos is today the main maritime center of the Ionian Sea. Lefkada Marina has 700 seats, Preveza 250, and overall there is strong mobility.

But what creates the greatest added value, according to Mr. Tefa, is the model of “Home Porting”. It concerns the owners of boats permanently parked in the marina and use all local services. “Thus, a whole local ecosystem is created, producing income and jobs, not only directly in the marina, but also in every connected industry, tourism, catering, transport.”

An 8 -month tourism riviera

In addition to its port, Preveza offers unique beaches, such as the blue coast within the urban tissue and the renowned monolithi, with 26 kilometers of coastline and 15 beach bars. By the end of the year, the thermal baths are expected to be completed, enhancing the tourist identity of the area. “The image of the beach combined with the historic center creates, for eight months a year, an atmosphere of Riviera,” the mayor noted.

Ambracikos remains part of the identity of the area and none of what makes it special is not going to change, the mayor assures. “Here you see dolphins, you see the caretta caretta … Families come and take the boats to observe them. Sailors do not bother, do not pollute, do not make a fuss. It is a mild activity, perfectly compatible with what is Ambracian. “

Most of the marinas in the region, as Mr. Tifas explains, mainly host sailing boats, which have a minimal environmental footprint. Many of them do not have generators or engines of large horsepower, and belong to environmental consciousness owners. The percentage of motorbikes against sailing is very small (10% motorized, 90% sailing)

Professional opportunities and new jobs

At the same time, as the Mayor of Preveza points out, the road opens up dynamically for the development of professions associated with the sailing, with the dominant Skipper – the professional boat governor. It is an area with prospects, as demand is constantly increasing and it is now difficult to find professionals available.

Tourists renting sailing boats, most of the time, combine them with the Skiper Service, as navigation is not always feasible without specialized staff. Especially in the last two years, the preference has been strongly focused on catamarans, which is more spacious, ideal for families and friends, and offer more comfort. Preveza, with its natural advantage and infrastructure, can emerge in a significant tourism hub of this kind. According to study, 6 direct and 100 indirect jobs are created for every 100 berths, but the reality for the economy is much more meaningful and multidimensional.

In addition, as Mr Tifas points out, “experience has shown that where the marina was created, the area was upgraded, infrastructure has been added, the environment was organized and the daily life has been improved. The Preveza Marina is an example of such successful intervention, as it turned into an organized, beautiful, environmentally controlled point of reference from a degraded space. Marinas, especially in the region, are not luxury indoors but are infrastructures that support an existing, growing tourism industry and contribute to the local economy. That is why the cooperation of the local community of the Municipality and the State is very important to support this effort. “