Greece is not simply in a process of rebooting its economy, but, with the assistance of the EU, it is on a course of building a more credible and modern state. At the end of the coming decade, in 2026, Tourism’s overall contribution to the country’s GDP will surpass 22%, while the direct and indirect employment linked to the sector will reach 28% of total employment. These two pieces of data alone verify beyond any doubt that tourism is the Greek economy’s real ‘heavy industry’.

Beyond its exceptional natural beauty, Greece is currently a point of reference as a unique oasis of stability and a beacon of security in a wider destabilized region. In the eyes of many, it is the epicenter of European soft power, in a region where the neighbors and competitors to the north, south and east of our borders are plagued with chronic and new problems. With a society that is hospitable, open, tolerant. With infrastructure – hotels and other types – that stand out. With landscapes, monuments, history and culture that are unique in the world. With products, nutrition and gastronomy wholly synonymous with longevity.

The development of infrastructure to support nautical tourism is a strategic goal for Greece over the next years. More specifically, the Greek state has announced significant investments:

• in the upgrading of cruise port facilities so that more cruise companies will use Greek ports as home ports for their Mediterranean cruises
• in the privatization and upgrading of the state and municipality owned marinas, in order to attract more and larger yachts

Several international investors have already taken advantage of such opportunities, recognizing the great opportunity in this high-value tourist product.

Greece is experiencing a boom in cruise numbers and visitors, following the existing regulatory framework that the country implemented in order to lift cabotage rules. This has liberalized the cruise market allowing non-EU flagged cruise ships to embark passengers from Greek ports, and combined with the infrastructure improvements currently planned in major Greek ports is expected to significantly improve the number of cruise ships using Greece either as a home port or a port of call.

The main competitive advantages of the country include a great coastline, the large number of available ports – most of them close to world renowned attractions – the small distances between destinations, and the country’s location – at the centre of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea, one of the world’s most visited regions.

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Current market trends in Greece offer plenty of opportunities for foreign investors to take advantage of the growing tourist traffic of the city for an almost unlimited number of potential clients and customers going your way. The economic crisis apart from hardships, offers advantages. Non EU – citizens have the chance to invest in Greece today that the real estate prices are at their lowest.

Foreign investors are mainly encouraged to develop economy and tourism. Aids are granted to companies that introduce new products and new technologies within the Greek market that modernize sites and production tools and protect the environment by making for example energy savings. – Energy: Greece has a liberalized energy market and is evolving into an energy hub in this decade. Today, it represents a significant and dynamic sector of the economy. Alliances with major European, American and Japanese companies and oil and gas agreements have positioned Greece as the country to do business in energy.