The Prime Minister’s Office, according to newmoney sources, is freezing the issuance of the JMD that would have put into effect the law passed last December, imposing a special fee per cruise passenger disembarking at Greek ports as a measure to combat overtourism.

“Santorini is Greece’s number one ambassador for cruise tourism abroad—some might call it a magnet. If this island is facing issues due to seismic activity in the surrounding sea area, then, as you can understand, it wouldn’t be fair to burden cruise companies with this special tax, especially when they are already dealing with increased costs from potential route changes and possible booking cancellations,” said a government official closely monitoring the situation, speaking to newmoney.

During a conference titled “Corfu Port: A Gateway to Local Community and Economic Development—The Contribution of Cruise Tourism,” the Secretary General for Shipping and Ports, Evangelos Kyriazopoulos, without giving a direct answer, noted that the government is currently focused on other priorities, such as the development of the port of Volos.

Cruise companies have strongly opposed the measure, particularly due to its retroactive effect. The president of the Union of Cruise Ship Owners, Captain George Koubenas, emphasized the need for careful planning when increasing fees so that companies have sufficient time to adjust.

According to estimates, cruise tourism in Greece is not expected to be significantly affected in 2025.

Last Monday, Ioannis Bras, CEO of Five Senses Consulting and Seatrade Cruise Ambassador, speaking to newmoney, highlighted that the government should take the cruise tax issue into account and consider postponing its implementation for a few months or even until next year to provide relief to the industry.