A study by PwC Greece on the Greek yachting market has revealed a major shortage of berths for large recreation boats, which are often chartered from abroad to sail in Greek waters. These shortages not only concern marinas and other harbors, but also organized anchorages.
As a result, the high demand for sailing in Greece and the absence of central planning and serious commercial policy on the part of the state significantly burden popular – and not only – destinations through uncontrolled stern mooring and anchoring.
The study, presented at Kathimerini’s Reimagine Tourism conference, highlighted the deficiencies in infrastructure as well as the state revenue lost from low charges, the lowest in the Mediterranean market, regarding both the value-added tax on charters and port fees.
Greece could have additional revenues of 470 million euros from the current level if it adjusted VAT and other charges on charters to the average of the rates applied by Italy, Spain, France, Croatia and Turkey, while if it were to set it at the levels of Italy, which are the highest, the additional revenues for the country’s budget could increase by €575 million.