Luxury yacht charters hit by Greek strikes on tourism

With striking Greek seamen once again threatening to blockade the port of Piraeus, it’s not just the mass tourism market of holidaymakers streaming onto the ferries to go island hopping to Mykonos, Naxos and Santorini, whose holiday plans are being scuppered by the unrest.

The strikers’ actions are also affecting the upper echelons of the Greek tourist trade. As the millionaire, yacht chartering jet-set head for their Mediterranean idylls aboard the world’s finest floating pleasure palaces they are finding themselves on the receiving end of delays and inconvenience which will doubtless have them spluttering into their caviar and champagne.

Chris Yates, MD of UK luxury yacht charter specialists Dream Marine says “I’ve just experienced the effect of the strikes at first hand myself. I was heading out to Piraeus last week to join O’mega, an 83-metre beauty which is one of the world’s best known superyachts, when I heard that the first attempt to blockade the port was going ahead.  O’mega was undergoing routine maintenance in the docks at Piraeus and the disruption caused by the strike meant that she would not be ready to sail on time for our charter.”

“Tourism professionals like us who are providing sailing breaks and yacht charters in Greece for UK and global individuals and companies would surely be forgiven for thinking that Greeks are in danger of killing the goose that lays their golden eggs. If this kind of disruption continues, it will hit not only our wealthy customers who charter mega-yachts, but also those keen sailors who want to charter the small to medium-size yachts and explore the Greek Islands – not to mention the yachting enthusiasts of the future, who are learning to sail on one of our flotilla holidays.”

“We all sympathise with people who are suffering the stringent economic measures which the Greek government is being forced to adopt. However, biting the hand that feeds them may gain publicity and embarrass the Government in the short term – but any consequent loss of their tourist revenue as tourists and holiday companies turn to alternative venues is surely going to make the situation even worse. I hope they manage to sort things out before they reach that stage!”

“Remember, customers can enjoy wonderful sailing by chartering yachts in other Mediterranean hotspots with fabulous coastlines and islands, including Croatia, Sardinia and Turkey. I for one hope the situation soon settles down, and Greece’s reputation as a top tourist destination can be preserved.”