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«Shaping the future of cruise tourism in Greece»: MSC group’s cruise division in Corfu

On Wednesday, 21 October 2026, MSC Group’s Cruise Division hosted the event “Shaping the Future of Cruise Tourism in Greece” on board MSC Armonia in the port of Corfu. The event brought together representatives of the government, local authorities, institutional bodies, port authorities and local media, as well as the island’s business and tourism community. Its aim was a meaningful dialogue on cruise tourism’s contribution to the local economy and to the wider development of Corfu.
The event is part of a series of similar meetings held by MSC Group’s Cruise Division in Thessaloniki, Kavala, Syros and Piraeus in 2025, and in Rhodes in 2026. The series reaffirms the Group’s long-standing commitment to the Greek market and its close cooperation with local communities in Greek destinations.
The event was attended by the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Stefanos Gkikas, accompanied by Hellenic Coast Guard Commander Ms. Chrysanthi Xakopoulou, and the Secretary General for the Aegean and Island Policy, Mr. Fotis Mangos.
In his statement, the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Stefanos Gkikas, said: “Cruise tourism is a particularly important sector for the Greek economy, for tourism and for local communities, and the statistics confirm that it has been growing steadily and dynamically in our country in recent years. Greece has every comparative advantage needed to strengthen its position on the international cruise map even further, drawing on its historical and cultural wealth and on the distinctive identity and natural beauty of each destination. When we consider that around 6.4 million cruise passenger arrivals have been recorded across the country since the start of the year, we can see the potential we have to showcase our country’s unique qualities.”
From his part, the Secretary General for the Aegean and Island Policy, Mr. Fotis Mangos, stated: “Cruise tourism is an integral pillar of our country’s tourism economy and can make a substantial contribution to the sustainable development of the Greek islands. In this respect, MSC Cruises is a particularly positive example of responsible and well-organised business activity in the cruise sector, contributing to employment, to economic activity in the destinations it calls at and to strengthening Greece’s international tourism image. Our goal is for tourism growth to be measured not only by the number of visitors, but also by the real value it creates and that stays in each destination.”
Also, in attendance were:
• Mr. Spyros Argyros, Deputy Regional Governor for Small Islands and Intra-Regional Transport
• Mr. Spyros Chalikiopoulos, Deputy Mayor for Sustainable Tourism Development and Public Relations, Municipality of Central Corfu and the Diapontia Islands
• Mr. Nikos Cheirdaris, Deputy Mayor for Tourism, External Relations and Entrepreneurship, Municipality of North Corfu
• Mr. Spyros Vlachopoulos, Mayor of Paxos
• Mr. Kostas Mouzakitis, President of the Corfu Chamber of Commerce
• Ms. Theodora Riga, President of Corfu Port Authority S.A. and President of MedCruise
• Mr. Dimitris Apergis, Chief Executive Officer of Corfu Port Authority S.A.
• Captain Theodoros Soukaras, Hellenic Coast Guard, Corfu Harbour Master
• Ms. Alexandra Andrioti, First Vice-President of the Corfu Hoteliers Association
• Mr. Dimitris Diavatis, Second Vice-President of the Corfu Travel Agents Association
• Mr. Vasilis Mamalis, Executive Director of the Hellenic Ports Association (ELIME).
MSC Group’s Cruise Division was represented by Mr. Kyriakos Anastasiadis, Strategic Advisor of MSC Cruises in Greece, Captain Ilias Tsoukalas, General Manager of MSC Hellas, Mr. Shant Krikorian, Senior Corporate Communications Manager at MSC Cruises and Mr. Panagiotis Mitseas, Institutional Relations and Community Engagement Manager.
Greece and Corfu in the Group’s strategy
The event opened with a welcome from Captain Igor Anic, Master of MSC Armonia, followed by addresses from the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Stefanos Gkikas, and the Secretary General for the Aegean and Island Policy, Mr. Fotis Mangos. This was followed by a presentation of MSC Group’s Cruise Division and its two brands, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys, highlighting their ever-growing presence in the Greek market. In 2026 and 2027, eight of the Group’s ships are making almost 500 calls at 22 Greek destinations, while Piraeus serves as a year-round homeport.
In Corfu, MSC Group’s Cruise Division holds the number one position. According to the port’s 2026 cruise schedule, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys are making more than 100 calls with seven ships, accounting for 33% of visitors. This presence spans all twelve months of the year: in winter, MSC Lirica (January–March) and MSC Orchestra (November–December) bring visitors to the island every week, supporting the local economy beyond the summer season.
Mr. Kyriakos Anastasiadis stated: “Corfu is one of our guests’ favourite destinations, and we are proud to be by far the cruise line that calls at the island most often, all year round. Our relationship with Greece, however, runs much deeper: MSC Group has been operating in the country since 1994 and today employs more than 500 people in Piraeus, Thessaloniki and Heraklion. Our work to establish Greece as a year-round cruise destination was recently recognised with two gold awards and one silver award at the Tourism Awards 2026. At the same time, together with Marketing Greece, we are creating content and joint campaigns, starting with Syros, to bring Greek destinations to new audiences.
“We know that growth must respect the islands. That is why more than 84% of the fresh water we use is produced on board through desalination, so that we place no burden on local supplies. In addition, by the end of 2026, 22 of the Cruise Division’s 27 ships will be able to connect to shore power. Meetings like today’s help us build the future of cruise tourism in Greece together with local stakeholders.”
Four priorities for the competitiveness of cruise tourism in Greece
To close the presentation, MSC Group’s Cruise Division put forward four priorities for discussion that would make Greece a more competitive cruise destination:
• New cruise destinations: developing priority destinations over the next five years, in cooperation with the government, the relevant ministries and the industry
• More tour guides: training more tour guides across the Greek islands, so that cruise visits bring greater benefit to local economies
• A better guest experience: measures to protect visitors from the heat, as well as protecting and upgrading the infrastructure that serves cruise visitors
• Onshore Power Supply (OPS): drawing up a plan to roll out OPS in Greece as a sustainability priority
An open Q&A session followed, during which participants exchanged views on the outlook for cruise tourism on the island. The event concluded with a networking lunch and a tour of MSC Armonia.
STATEMENTS
Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy, Mr. Stefanos Gkikas:
“Cruise tourism is a particularly important sector for the Greek economy, for tourism and for local communities, and the statistics confirm that it has been growing steadily and dynamically in our country in recent years.
“Greece has every comparative advantage needed to strengthen its position on the international cruise map even further, drawing on its historical and cultural wealth and on the distinctive identity and natural beauty of each destination.
“Depending on the port of call, visitors can combine their cruise experience with visits to archaeological sites of international interest.
“When we consider that around 6.4 million cruise passenger arrivals have been recorded across the country since the start of the year, we can see the potential we have to showcase our country’s unique qualities.”
Secretary General for the Aegean and Island Policy, Mr. Fotis Mangos:
“Cruise tourism is an integral pillar of our country’s tourism economy and can make a substantial contribution to the sustainable development of the Greek islands. Tourism is the main industry for many of our islands: it creates jobs, supports local businesses, boosts the national economy and opens up new prospects for island communities.
“In this respect, MSC Cruises is a particularly positive example of responsible and well-organised business activity in the cruise sector, contributing to employment, to economic activity in the destinations it calls at and to strengthening Greece’s international tourism image. At the same time, it gives thousands of visitors the chance to discover different places, islands, cultures and experiences of our country on a single voyage, showcasing Greece’s unique multi-island character.
“As the General Secretariat for the Aegean and Island Policy, with deep knowledge of the realities our islands face and a strong sense of responsibility towards island communities, we believe that the further growth of cruise tourism must remain firmly linked to sustainability, respect for the environment and the protection of each destination’s cultural identity. Our goal is for tourism growth to be measured not only by the number of visitors, but also by the real value it creates and that stays in each place: in local businesses, with workers and professionals, and in island communities themselves.
“Cooperation between the State, local government, port bodies and businesses in the sector is essential if we are to shape a strong and sustainable cruise model that combines economic growth with protecting the distinctive character of our islands. Through responsible partnerships and joint planning, we can ensure that cruise tourism becomes not only a major asset for Greek tourism, but also a lasting source of prosperity and opportunity for the people of the Greek islands.”