The Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias met at the Ministry of Tourism with the new General Director of the International Association of Cruise Companies (CLIA) for Europe Marie-Caroline Laurent, who is paying a visit to our country.
This is Ms. Laurent’s first visit abroad after taking up her duties, which, as she pointed out, shows the importance that CLIA gives to the Greek cruise market.
The meeting agreed on the implementation of the required procedures, both by the State and cruise companies, for the start of the cruise in Greece in the next tourist season from March 2022, earlier than ever.
Ms. Laurent congratulated Mr. Kikilias for dealing with the pandemic from Greece, emphasizing that the health protocols of our country contributed the most to the good course of Tourism, as well as to the global opening of the cruise from Greece, which made it even more “Visible” on the cruise map.
For his part, Mr. Kikilias referred to the important cooperation between the Ministry and CLIA, expressing this intention to intensify in the near future.
He stressed the interest shown by Greece in strengthening the cruise beyond the established destinations, but also in extending the season throughout the year, while informing Ms. Laurent that the strategic choice of the Greek Government is to use RRF resources to strengthen infrastructure. and cruise-related micro-infrastructure.
Mr. Kikilias pointed out that the Ministry of Tourism cooperates with all stakeholders to create a system that will allow the smoother planning of cruise ship approaches, especially to destinations with increased demand, with the aim of our country to play a leading role in the development of cruise worldwide.
The meeting was also attended by the representative of CLIA in the Eastern Mediterranean Maria Deligianni, who referred to the importance of the cruise industry of the recent Meeting of the Joint Tourism Committee of Greece-Turkey and thanked Mr. Kikilias for his actions, in cooperation with the Commission. Experts, who enabled the cruise ships to sail to or from the Turkish ports of Kusadasi and Galata, which meet European protocols and conditions.
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