Protest against cruise passenger ΄bubbles΄ planned for Friday 2 July
tourism
25 Jun 2021
/ 14:46
CORFU. 70% income loss due to the ΄bubble΄ protocol imposed by cruise companies
Corfu business organisations are planning a protest gathering at Corfu Port on Friday 2 July against the 'bubble' protocol imposed on passengers by the cruise companies.
At a press conference held this morning business representatives condemned the economic strangulation which could lead to the closure of shops and other businesses connected to cruises and spoke of the serious consequences of the passenger bubbles. The 'bubble' protocol means that passengers cannot wander around Corfu Town freely but are guided to specific businesses and shops, leading to unfair competition.
They pointed out that since cruise ships started coming to Corfu this year there has been an income loss of approximately 70% leading to many businesses being in serious trouble and a difficult winter ahead of them. The average spend per head of cruise passengers is €50 and approximately 60% of tourist income in Corfu Town comes from these passengers!
Call for mass participation in protest
The business organisations are calling on all those involved with cruise passengers to take part in the protest at the port Schengen entrance at 09:00 on Friday 2 July and are in contact with other cruise ports of call such as Katakolo, Piraeus, Heraklion and Santorini to coordinate simultaneous protests on the same day. Cruise ships will not be approached so as not to bother the passengers.
Possibility of further protests
They warned of further protests if the state doesn't take steps to lift the 'bubble' protocol and support the affected sectors. Despite their requests to the government and the Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis, they have, as yet, had no response, although Corfu, as a popular tourist destination, plays a significant role in the Greek economy.
"We cannot accept that this protocol won't end and that it will continue right through the summer," said the President of the Ionian Trade & Enterprise Federation Kostas Mouzakitis.
He said that the only information they had was that cruise ships which have only fully vaccinated passengers will allow the passengers to wander freely in Corfu Town - apart from those sailing under the Italian flaf due to the individual protocols of the cruise companies. This will cause further difficulties as these are the ones that mostly visit Corfu Port.
The President of Corfu Trade Association Yiannis Alegris asked for the state and all the Ministries involved to intervene as well as the three Corfu MPs, the Regional Governor, the three Corfu Mayors and Corfu Port Authority in order to resolve the issue immediately. At the moment there are only 10 businesses that benefit from the protocol.
At a press conference held this morning business representatives condemned the economic strangulation which could lead to the closure of shops and other businesses connected to cruises and spoke of the serious consequences of the passenger bubbles. The 'bubble' protocol means that passengers cannot wander around Corfu Town freely but are guided to specific businesses and shops, leading to unfair competition.
They pointed out that since cruise ships started coming to Corfu this year there has been an income loss of approximately 70% leading to many businesses being in serious trouble and a difficult winter ahead of them. The average spend per head of cruise passengers is €50 and approximately 60% of tourist income in Corfu Town comes from these passengers!
Call for mass participation in protest
The business organisations are calling on all those involved with cruise passengers to take part in the protest at the port Schengen entrance at 09:00 on Friday 2 July and are in contact with other cruise ports of call such as Katakolo, Piraeus, Heraklion and Santorini to coordinate simultaneous protests on the same day. Cruise ships will not be approached so as not to bother the passengers.
Possibility of further protests
They warned of further protests if the state doesn't take steps to lift the 'bubble' protocol and support the affected sectors. Despite their requests to the government and the Tourism Minister Haris Theoharis, they have, as yet, had no response, although Corfu, as a popular tourist destination, plays a significant role in the Greek economy.
"We cannot accept that this protocol won't end and that it will continue right through the summer," said the President of the Ionian Trade & Enterprise Federation Kostas Mouzakitis.
He said that the only information they had was that cruise ships which have only fully vaccinated passengers will allow the passengers to wander freely in Corfu Town - apart from those sailing under the Italian flaf due to the individual protocols of the cruise companies. This will cause further difficulties as these are the ones that mostly visit Corfu Port.
The President of Corfu Trade Association Yiannis Alegris asked for the state and all the Ministries involved to intervene as well as the three Corfu MPs, the Regional Governor, the three Corfu Mayors and Corfu Port Authority in order to resolve the issue immediately. At the moment there are only 10 businesses that benefit from the protocol.
