Tourism Minister discusses restart of cruises with company representatives
Tourism Minister
26 Feb 2021
/ 12:02
ATHENS. During the online talks the possibility of extending the season until the end of the year was discussed.
The Greek Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis discussed the prospects of resuming cruises in Greece when epidemiological data allows with company representatives from the Cruise Lines Association (CLIA).
Mr. Theoharis said, "Last year Greece led the way in the restart of cruises worldwide and we are continuing in the same direction even more dynamically with plans for this year's restart. The cruise sector is one of the main types of tourism for our country and is extremely important for the Greek economy. We therefore need to maximise our collaboration and efforts so that cruises can restart safely as soon as possible."
The Minister placed special emphasis on the promotion of Greek products, which should be recommended by cruise companies to their passengers. He exhorted the representatives to increase supplies from Greek producers for their ships and stressed that "In this way the 'Greek Experience' will also be greater on each cruise ship."
During the online meeting the possibility of extending the season until the end of the year was discussed. The cruise company representatives promised to give Greece as much support as they can, not only this year, but also in future years. They declared that, so far, they have been happy with their collaboration with the Tourism Ministry.
From his side, Mr. Theoharis assured them that he will stand by the cruise companies and other businesses in their efforts to restart Greek tourism. He expressed the desire to continue the good cooperation between the relevant state authorities and the private sector in the same spirit as during last year's tourist season.
The CLIA National Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Maria Deligianni said, "The cruise industry has worked diligently to introduce improved protocols for the protection of passengers, crews and the communities visited. The success of last year's restart of cruises in Greece and elsewhere demonstrated the efficacy of the improved protocols. Greece is an important cruise destination and we are eager to restart there safely in collaboration with the authorities, as always."
An indication of the importance the cruise sector gave to the online meeting with the Tourism Minister was the number of representatives from large cruise companies that participated - Carnival Group, Celebrity Cruises/Royal Caribbean, Celestyal Cruises, Costa Cruises, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, Mystic Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Ponant, Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea Cruises, TUI Cruises.
At the conclusion of the meeting all sides agreed that the restart of cruises has to be a collective effort and for exactly that reason coordination is required between governments, cruise companies and ports.
Mr. Theoharis said, "Last year Greece led the way in the restart of cruises worldwide and we are continuing in the same direction even more dynamically with plans for this year's restart. The cruise sector is one of the main types of tourism for our country and is extremely important for the Greek economy. We therefore need to maximise our collaboration and efforts so that cruises can restart safely as soon as possible."
The Minister placed special emphasis on the promotion of Greek products, which should be recommended by cruise companies to their passengers. He exhorted the representatives to increase supplies from Greek producers for their ships and stressed that "In this way the 'Greek Experience' will also be greater on each cruise ship."
During the online meeting the possibility of extending the season until the end of the year was discussed. The cruise company representatives promised to give Greece as much support as they can, not only this year, but also in future years. They declared that, so far, they have been happy with their collaboration with the Tourism Ministry.
From his side, Mr. Theoharis assured them that he will stand by the cruise companies and other businesses in their efforts to restart Greek tourism. He expressed the desire to continue the good cooperation between the relevant state authorities and the private sector in the same spirit as during last year's tourist season.
The CLIA National Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Maria Deligianni said, "The cruise industry has worked diligently to introduce improved protocols for the protection of passengers, crews and the communities visited. The success of last year's restart of cruises in Greece and elsewhere demonstrated the efficacy of the improved protocols. Greece is an important cruise destination and we are eager to restart there safely in collaboration with the authorities, as always."
An indication of the importance the cruise sector gave to the online meeting with the Tourism Minister was the number of representatives from large cruise companies that participated - Carnival Group, Celebrity Cruises/Royal Caribbean, Celestyal Cruises, Costa Cruises, Marella Cruises, MSC Cruises, Mystic Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Ponant, Royal Caribbean Group, Silversea Cruises, TUI Cruises.
At the conclusion of the meeting all sides agreed that the restart of cruises has to be a collective effort and for exactly that reason coordination is required between governments, cruise companies and ports.
