How mega yacht marina will transform ΄forgotten΄ Mantouki area
mega yacht marina
07 Jul 2022
/ 09:43
CORFU. The ambitious project is being well received by local businesses, who can see only positive benefits for the area.
The new mega yacht marina next to the commercial port and the cruise ship terminal is expected to create a new identity and develop the whole area as well as lead to a rise in rents.
Four applicants have expressed an interest in the construction, operation, maintenance and utilisation of the tourist Mega Yacht Marina and the next stage of the process is to evaluate the applications and establish which meet the criteria.
Rejuvenation of the area
The ambitious project is expected to contribute to the general development of tourism in Corfu and is being well received by local businesses, who can see only positive benefits for the area. Central Corfu Municipality and partners are already planning to participate in a European programme to convert the old municipal slaughterhouses in Mantouki into a cultural centre in the area neighbouring the marina project.
"The development and operation of a modern mega yacht marina will benefit the island and the local community," Corfu Trade Association President Yiannis Alegris told Enimerosi. "It will give a new identity to the area, which for years has been considered underdeveloped, and will improve the tourist product, whilst benefitting the local economy and businesses as well as providing new modern infrastructure." He added that the marina will help provide new jobs at this difficult time.
From marshland to tourist attraction
The development and operation of Gouvia Marina is the example which confirms the expectations. "Before the marina opened there was no development in the area - it was just marshland," Gouvia D-Marine director Konstantinos Karabatsos told Enimerosi. "A large network of service providers then developed in the area. The small rental apartments started filling up and businesses related to the marina developed - yachting, insurance etc. Furthermore, 1,000 people are employed in the provision of all the marina's services."
He added that the new mega yacht marina will not affect Gouvia Marina, which has a different target group. Due to the investment, which will extend to the Emporiko Kentro, however, the area will need to develop in order to serve both the visitors and the crews and this will lead to new jobs and economic benefits.
According to Central Corfu Deputy Mayor for Tourism Panos Varouchas, the investment will obviously lead to an increase in rents in the area. The general economic effect will, however, be greater than that of a simple hotel as marinas don't operate on an all-inclusive basis and the area will benefit from increased numbers of upmarket visitors.
He said that the municipality will be looking into creating a car park there once the plan for the marina has been completed. "All the businesses in the Emporiko Kentro are private," he said. "The road is the responsibility of the Regional Administration and Corfu Port Authority and the municipality has no say. We will, however, look into the possibility of a bus connection, as it now comes to the Emporiko Kentro."
"The area around these types of facilities are usually affected," former director of Gouvia Marina and D-Marine Gouvia Dimitris Koutsodontis told Enimerosi. "If businesses want to benefit from the yachts, they must take steps to attract visitors."
Infrastructure
According to the TAIPED (Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund) plan, the aim is to create an ultramodern marina exclusively for large, luxury yachts. The mega yacht marina will have its own entrance from the public road and its facilities will be separate from the rest of the port. The recommended land facilities to be provided include parking, small vessel repair facilities, pumping station and electricity sub-station, hotesl, bars, shops, supermarkets, gyms and tennis courts.
Other recommended facilities are an administrative building, control tower and a separate entrance. The marina will be able to accommodate 98 yachts up to 140m in length. The land zone is 39,400 sq.m. and with a possible extension this could go up to a maximum of 100,000 sq.m.
Four applicants have expressed an interest in the construction, operation, maintenance and utilisation of the tourist Mega Yacht Marina and the next stage of the process is to evaluate the applications and establish which meet the criteria.
Rejuvenation of the area
The ambitious project is expected to contribute to the general development of tourism in Corfu and is being well received by local businesses, who can see only positive benefits for the area. Central Corfu Municipality and partners are already planning to participate in a European programme to convert the old municipal slaughterhouses in Mantouki into a cultural centre in the area neighbouring the marina project.
"The development and operation of a modern mega yacht marina will benefit the island and the local community," Corfu Trade Association President Yiannis Alegris told Enimerosi. "It will give a new identity to the area, which for years has been considered underdeveloped, and will improve the tourist product, whilst benefitting the local economy and businesses as well as providing new modern infrastructure." He added that the marina will help provide new jobs at this difficult time.
From marshland to tourist attraction
The development and operation of Gouvia Marina is the example which confirms the expectations. "Before the marina opened there was no development in the area - it was just marshland," Gouvia D-Marine director Konstantinos Karabatsos told Enimerosi. "A large network of service providers then developed in the area. The small rental apartments started filling up and businesses related to the marina developed - yachting, insurance etc. Furthermore, 1,000 people are employed in the provision of all the marina's services."
He added that the new mega yacht marina will not affect Gouvia Marina, which has a different target group. Due to the investment, which will extend to the Emporiko Kentro, however, the area will need to develop in order to serve both the visitors and the crews and this will lead to new jobs and economic benefits.
According to Central Corfu Deputy Mayor for Tourism Panos Varouchas, the investment will obviously lead to an increase in rents in the area. The general economic effect will, however, be greater than that of a simple hotel as marinas don't operate on an all-inclusive basis and the area will benefit from increased numbers of upmarket visitors.
He said that the municipality will be looking into creating a car park there once the plan for the marina has been completed. "All the businesses in the Emporiko Kentro are private," he said. "The road is the responsibility of the Regional Administration and Corfu Port Authority and the municipality has no say. We will, however, look into the possibility of a bus connection, as it now comes to the Emporiko Kentro."
"The area around these types of facilities are usually affected," former director of Gouvia Marina and D-Marine Gouvia Dimitris Koutsodontis told Enimerosi. "If businesses want to benefit from the yachts, they must take steps to attract visitors."
Infrastructure
According to the TAIPED (Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund) plan, the aim is to create an ultramodern marina exclusively for large, luxury yachts. The mega yacht marina will have its own entrance from the public road and its facilities will be separate from the rest of the port. The recommended land facilities to be provided include parking, small vessel repair facilities, pumping station and electricity sub-station, hotesl, bars, shops, supermarkets, gyms and tennis courts.
Other recommended facilities are an administrative building, control tower and a separate entrance. The marina will be able to accommodate 98 yachts up to 140m in length. The land zone is 39,400 sq.m. and with a possible extension this could go up to a maximum of 100,000 sq.m.
