The port of Piraeus, which is Greece's busy maritime gateway, has achieved a new milestone in its cruise passenger traffic for the year 2023. The numbers are quite impressive as the port has welcomed around 1.5 million passengers, which is a significant increase from 880,000 in the previous year.
Astonishing Growth in Homeport Passengers
The port experienced a significant increase in the number of passengers in the year 2023. There were around 800,000 homeport passengers, which is more than double the 380,000 of the previous year. A total of 760 cruise ships arrived at the port, out of which 525 were homeporting.
2024 Projections: Higher Tides Await
Looking ahead to 2024, Piraeus port is set for another successful year with over 1,042 cruise ships scheduled to arrive and an estimated 800 homeport ships expected to call. This follows the strong momentum of 2023, which saw the port reach new heights. Pre-bookings are already indicating a promising year ahead.
Implications of the Cruise Industry Growth
Yu Zenggang, the Chairman of the Piraeus Port Authority, expressed his satisfaction with the thriving cruise industry at the port. He emphasized the positive impact it has on the local community, surrounding municipalities, the region of Attica, and Greece as a whole. The growth of cruise tourism not only reflects the industry's upward trend but also highlights the vital role of the cruise sector in boosting the Greek economy.
