Yachting in Greece: Advance bookings point to a record year

Optimism is rife among yachting industry insiders who expect 2023 to be another record year for bookings. But the fact that the new law passed in April 2022 has not yet been implemented deprives Greece of revenues from marine tourism.

Law 4926/2022 passed in April 2022 has left several gray areas and this does not help us to be competitive, noted Mr. Michalis Skoulikidis, President of the Hellenic Maritime Tourism Association, speaking at the 2nd Panhellenic Yachting Conference, last week.

A new era for yachting with Greece as the protagonist

A year later, the e-charter permission and special fee payment platform (TEPADACH) has not been created. With the timely activation of the electronic platform, the percentage increase in the arrivals of pleasure boats larger than 35 meters would jump by 30% – 40%, stated at the same conference Ms. Gina Polemi on behalf of the Panhellenic Association of Marine Tourism Professionals. However, if the platform is not activated, arrivals will only increase by 15% compared to 2022. Ms. Polemi reported that in 2022, 169 vessels larger than 35 meters came to Greece and performed 4,464 charter days.

Global phenomenon

At the same conference, the president of SITESAP (boats without a permanent crew), Mr. Paris Loutriotis, emphasized that the sector of professional tourist boats without a permanent crew up to 25 meters, had a good year in 2022, but “we must have 2-3 more good years, so that we can compensate for the difficulties and losses of the previous years”.

Mr. Skoulikidis made it clear, however, that the golden age experienced by the yachting industry in the last two years is not a Greek but a global phenomenon. “It was not born from any of our own efforts, it is the result of international circumstances and the need for a safe haven,” he points out.

At this point we should note that Greece is considered one of the best destinations in the world for yachting

It is indicative that according to Christies the Greek islands are the second destination for luxury yachts worldwide after the French Riviera.

For this reason, Mr. Skoulikidis’ remark that “in order to be able to maintain the momentum that has been created in the sector, we will finally have to coordinate, modernize and act united” has even more salience. The President of the Hellenic Marine Tourism Association considers that the law passed in April 2022 needs improvements especially in articles eight and nine. In particular, among other things, he requests with regard to article eight, regardless of whether vessels are transiting, it is necessary to know the beneficial owner as only in this way will there be transparency. “We live in an era of sanctions against many Russians and investigations into money laundering,” he noted. We also need a mechanism to find the actual charter prices. Mr. Skoulikidis also requests that vessels flying a foreign flag have the same rights and obligations as vessels flying the Greek flag so that the Greek flag remains competitive.

On her part, Ms. Polemi considers that there is no issue with the flag and underlines that with the new law Greece decided to open borders and this lays foundations for the future, as well as a healthy competition. Where she agreed with Mr. Skoulikidis is that the delay in electronic applications creates an unstable environment for Greece’s inclusion in the 2023 charter “map”. The immediate activation and “communication” of e-CHARTER PERMISSION will create an unexpected increase in arrivals and consequently revenues for the Greek state.

However, speaking at the same conference, the president of the Maritime Chamber of Greece, Mr. Giorgos Pateras, estimated that the problem of activating the platform will be solved in the next few weeks, according to the assurances of the General Secretary of Independent Domestic Revenue Authority AADE, Mr. Giorgos Pitsilis.

Finally, indicative of the delays in the implementation of the law, is the remark of the vice-president of the Greek Tourism Boat Owners Association (EPEST), Mr. Manolis Stefanakis, that almost all Pleqsure Boat Companies are illegal as they would have to adjust their statutes by January 20, which has not taken place and an extension is necessary.