The contract for the Cyprus-Greece ferry service has been renewed for another three years, the deputy ministry of shipping announced on Friday following another successful summer run.
The government also announced on Friday that it was opening a public consultation with stakeholders with the aim of adopting a National Strategy for Cruise Tourism to capitalise on what is emerging as a lucrative alternative in the tourism sector. The ferry being one.
“After evaluating the performance indicators, based on the numbers of passengers transported from 2022 until today, we have decided to extend the agreement for the execution of the Cyprus-Greece Maritime Passenger Connection, for a further three years, 2025, 2026 and 2027,” the ministry said.
“The connection has been embraced by the travelling public since its first year with tremendous success, exceeding all desired expectations and creating a new segment of the tourism market for those wishing to travel to and from Cyprus and the rest of continental Europe with their private cars and two-wheelers.”
The ministry said the route also serves those who face difficulties in traveling by air either for medical reasons either due to age or fear of flying.
Since the first voyage in June 2022 until now, more than 21,000 passengers have used the ferry service, which has also transported more than 7,000 cars and 700 pets.
“These numbers prove that the maritime passenger connection is essential,” it concluded.
This year’s service resumed on May 29 when the Cypriot-flagged Daleela left the DP World terminal at Limassol port.
The last departing trips for this year will go from Limassol port on September 1 and return on September 3.
There had been increased bookings again for 2024, which were up on 2023.
This year the ship also only used the Limassol-Piraeus route whereas in 2023 it had alternated between departing and returning from Limassol and Larnaca.
However, it was announced in 2024 that it would only use Limassol port, reportedly for financial reasons because there had been a dramatic decrease in the number of cruise ships using Limassol this year and pricing had come down.
At the same time, increased traffic at Larnaca port had created logistical problems.
As far as the national strategy for making the island into a cruise centre, the government said the public consultation would run until September 6 with a deadline of at 11.59pm.
The reason for the launch of the initiative, it said is “the recognition of the potential and prospects of cruise tourism in enhancing economic development, the creation of jobs and the promotion of culture in Cyprus, but also the advantages of Cyprus as a cruise destination”.
The public consultation is designed to take a “holistic approach” to the issue, analysing and mapping in the first stage the existing situation and then developing a plan action with a specific implementation schedule”.
The aim is to identify competitive advantages, opportunities, weaknesses, gaps and or omissions so as to achieve the development of the optimal framework governing cruise tourism.
For more information, those interested can contact the deputy ministry of shipping at email apavlides@dms.gov.cy
