2024-04-20 03:30:44
As the country prepares to welcome the most foreign visitors in its history this year, around 35 million according to expert estimates, basic public infrastructure remains woefully inadequate. However, instead of the competent public authorities and agencies speeding up their upgrading processes, either through privatizations or through public investments, reform fatigue is evident which slows down even launched tender processes by the TAIPED and the Superfund.
The 23 regional airports that remained under the control of the State, as well as ports of international interest, the privatization of which has been launched, remain in an obsolete state. Other ports, such as for example Naxos or Paros, which now receive many times more passenger traffic – and vehicle numbers – than the one for which they were built, are unable to proceed with their upgrading either due to a lack of funds or due to bureaucratic obstacles.
The General Secretariat of Ports, Port Policy and Maritime Investments of the Ministry of Shipping is trying to find resources and launch the most urgent projects, as well as to reform the operating system of the port funds – which manage any mooring positions for pleasure boats in Greece -, but cooperation with other agencies and local self-governing authorities does not allow for much optimism about the speed with which these plans will be implemented, top ministry sources say. Perhaps a characteristic example is the master plan of the port of Naxos, a plan required for port upgrading projects to proceed, which remains unknown when it will be approved by the numerous co-competent authorities.
Meanwhile, a few weeks ago, in a recent diver inspection, it was found that one can… swim underwater from one side to the other due to the erosion of the bottom of its pier. It is one of the islands that develop tourism faster than the Greek average.
Kalamata
And while the request of all governments up to now, as well as the representative bodies of the sector, is the geographical and temporal expansion of the tourist season, new destinations are not sufficiently supported. The tender for the privatization of Kalamata airport, in whose region billions of euros of investment have been implemented, putting the Peloponnese on the map of international tourist destinations, has been pending since 2022. According to recent announcements by the Superfund, the concessionaire that will be selected by the tender process is not going to take over the airport before the beginning of 2025, three full years after the announcement. And it is then unknown how many months or even years will be needed for the permits that will allow the expansion and upgrading of its infrastructure.
In fact, the Superfund has not even decided on a utilization model for the remaining 22 regional airports, some of which serve rapidly growing destinations and are thus already insufficient to manage passenger traffic flows. These are the airports of Paros, Milos, Naxos, Leros, Sitia, Syros, Astypalaia, Kastellorizo, Karpathos, Chios, Alexandroupolis, Araxos, Limnos, Ioannina, Ikaria, Kythira, Nea Aghialos, Kalymnos, Skyros, Kastoria, Kasos and Kozani. As “K” has already pointed out, most of them need serious investments both in terminals and runways as well as in their electronic and mechanical equipment.
“Their modernization will upgrade tourism in the specific areas, helping to spread the economic benefits from tourism throughout Greece, but also in decongesting other saturated destinations, while at the same time improving the daily life of residents and local communities”, they said before months sources of the Superfund administration. However, it remains unknown when the process of selecting a model for the utilization of these 22 airports that passed from the TAIPED to the Superfund for incomprehensible reasons, as reported by the market, will be completed. It is noted that, as the economic object of many of them is considered minor, it is difficult to attract investors who will be willing to invest significant sums in them, and thus it is common ground that an incentive package should be granted that includes tax, licensing and other benefits in order to make the required investments.
Bureaucratic obstacles and lack of funds are delaying upgrade projects in tourist destinations.
At the same time, the country’s large ports that have already been privatized, such as the Piraeus Port Authority, which is the gateway to the island country, “do not sufficiently prioritize investments in the coastal shipping sector, but choose to “run” faster investments in commercial activities that bring and greater revenues”, say sources in the shipping industry and the tourism industry in general.
The privatizations
TAIPED has privatized the port of Piraeus and the port of Thessaloniki since the previous decade, while recently also the port of Igoumenitsa. Within the year it is expected that the control of the port of Heraklion in Crete will be given to a private person, where bureaucratic problems are delaying the submission of the concession contract for a vote by the Parliament. Privatization at the port of Volos has been entangled due to appeals to the Council of State, while the tender for the port of Lavrio started just a few weeks ago. It remains unknown when the tender will “run” for the port of Rafina, which now functions as Attica’s main “bridgehead” with the Cyclades, especially in the heart of summer and is unable to comfortably manage passenger flows. The same happens with the port of Patras which, together with Igoumenitsa, is the gateway to Italy. The port of Kavala, which does not have a passenger project, has been privatized, while the port of Alexandroupoli remains in the State for geopolitical reasons.
Dozens of smaller ports that are not in the privatization program are looking for funds in order to be able to upgrade and respond to the role they are called to play today. As well as marine sanctuaries and tourist ports that fall under the jurisdiction of both the Ministry of Shipping and the Ministry of Tourism. The Minister of Shipping and the responsible general secretary have identified the problems -after all, after extensive interventions by the association of coastal shipping masters, and not only-, however, they have only managed to secure about 180 million from the Ministry of Shipping and additional funds from the Ministry of Tourism. These amounts are estimated to fall significantly short of those required for the complete modernization of the port system at levels capable of serving the tourist flows as well as the island economies and societies. Of course, the time horizon for the implementation of the projects for which these funds are intended is also unknown, at a time when the real needs have already manifested.
And this despite the fact that one in three euros that Greece earns every year comes from tourism. The total contribution of the sector to the economy in 2023, both direct and secondary benefits, is estimated between 62.8 billion and 75.6 billion euros, figures corresponding to between 28.5% and 34.3% of GDP , according to data from the Institute of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (INSETE).
Initiative to ensure the viability of Antiparos
Over the past 20 years, Antiparos has established itself as a high-end holiday and residential destination, attracting among others highly affluent foreign owners such as Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, who have become part of the island’s social fabric. Now many of them as well as people who starred in the development of Antiparos are joining forces to ensure that the island maintains its sustainable path.
One of the people supporting this effort is Jason Tsakonas, who pioneered the sustainable development of Antiparos since the establishment of his company Oliaros in 2001, a real estate development and holdings company. Since then, Mr. Tsakona’s Antiparos Project has developed 56 of the approximately 135 luxury residences on the island, working with more than 20 distinguished Greek and foreign architects and studios.
Oliaros has contributed to the establishment of Antiparos as an architectural destination, winning important architectural and design awards along the way.
Businesses and residents support the Antiparos Preservation Society.
Antiparos is at a critical crossroads in its development: it is a positive example to date, but its success may attract opportunists with plans that may not prioritize its long-term sustainability. In this light, many entrepreneurs, including Mr. Tsakonas, consider it imperative to establish a set of Antiparos standards, a code of conduct that all current and future local brands must adhere to, in order to preserve what Antiparos represents today. Thus, the residents of Antiparos support the Antiparos Preservation Society, led by Konstantinos Lampadarios.
All residents are invited to participate in the effort to preserve the island’s unique characteristics and guide it through upcoming challenges such as over-tourism and over-development; and to promote a responsible development approach that takes into account environmental and social challenges, including infrastructure and urban planning. The first large-scale project of APS is the transfer of the medical center to a new location with modern equipment, funded by residents of Antiparos through the Antiparos Preservation Society.
Το Beach House Antiparos
A decade ago, in 2013, Mr. Tsakonas founded the Beach House Antiparos, (BHA) which developed into a center for Oliaros’ clients as well as the residents of the wider island. Now Mr. Tsakonas has decided to hand over the keys to a dedicated, specialist in hospitality, and to a leading Greek restaurateur and chef from the existing ecosystem of Antiparos. Athanasia Komninou, owner of “The Rooster”, the island’s first and only five-star hotel, took over the reins with Pericles Koskinas – who has been in charge of BHA’s menus since 2014 – and his team at “Kukuvaia” in order to run the restaurant. BHA is one of the most powerful local brands that have helped the island become an example of positive development over the past 20 years. Other such brands include “Captain Pipino”, “Peramataki”, “A Luna”, “Family”, “Lollos Pizza” and “Sapu”, “Elia”, “Pantelis Klimataria” and “The Rooster”. .
Source kathimerini.gr
Ilias Bellos