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Though cruising and sailing have
become increasingly popular in Greece, the country suffers
from a shortage of marina facilities. There are fewer than
7,000 marina berths around the Greek coastline and the islands.
Demand for berths in the Attica area alone is estimated at
over 10,000.
The Hellenic Tourist Organisation (EOT)
plans to expand the existing network of 20 marinas to 50,
and to add another 24 yacht anchorages in bays on smaller
islands, as well as four new marinas based at luxury hotels. This
would increase the number of berths and moorings to almost
16,000 over the next five years. To promote private
investment in marina and anchorage construction, EOT has decided
to appoint an international adviser for the marine tourism
sector.
Chain
of Ports To Link Greek Islands
The emphasis
will be on building small marina and harbour facilities to
suit the miniature scale of Greek island ports. They would
form a chain through the Ionian islands, around the Peloponnese coast
and across the Cyclades to the Dodecanese. As well as attracting
yachts from the western Mediterranean, the new marina network
would give a boost to the yacht charter sector. With only
20,000 charters a year in Greek waters, the market lags behind
Italy and Turkey.
Marina
development in Greece has faced problems because of objections
by the state archaeological service - many locations are close
to unexcavated ancient remains - and local environmental groups.
EOT has asked the National
Technical University of Athens to survey 600 possible
marina and anchorage sites around Greece so that confrontations
can be avoided in future.
Private
Operators and Resort Hotels Encouraged to Invest
Of the
20 marinas currently in operation, 14 are privately managed
while the remainder are controlled by EOT and other state
entities. EOT plans to retain control of its four big marinas
around Attica. The remaining facilities will be offered to
private operators on long leases of at least 40 years. They
would be expected to invest in refurbishment and expansion.
Hotels with more than 200 beds that are located at a distance
from existing ports would also be allowed to build marinas.
Several
private Greek companies, including yacht charterers, specialise
in managing local marinas. Greek companies also have a stake
in some of the 38 marinas and anchorages under construction.
EOT wants foreign marina operators to bid for some of the
20 new marinas that will be offered for tender from this year.
The new
facilities would cost a total of GDR50bn, with private investors
contributing 65% and the remainder covered through grants
from EU
structural funds.
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