President of the Thira Municipal Community Criticizes Bus Operators’ Mobilization
The President of the Thira Municipal Community, Panos Kavallaris, has publicly expressed his opposition to ongoing mobilizations affecting cruise ship passengers arriving in Santorini.
In a statement shared on social media, Kavallaris argued that organizing protests during a period of increased tourist activity does not primarily impact the municipality, but instead creates difficulties for residents, workers, businesses, and visitors to the island.
According to Kavallaris, discussions regarding the issue are already underway, with a scheduled meeting set to take place at the Municipality of Thira on June 25. He suggested that escalating actions before the completion of these discussions raises concerns and places unnecessary pressure on the local community and tourism sector.
Questions Raised Over Selective Service Disruptions
A key point in Kavallaris’ statement concerns what he describes as the selective nature of the mobilization.
He notes that transportation services for visitors arriving by air, as well as passengers traveling on daily excursions from Crete, continue to operate normally. However, cruise ship passengers appear to be the only group directly affected.
As a result, Kavallaris publicly questioned the purpose of targeting cruise visitors specifically and asked what message the action is intended to send and to whom.
“You cannot cancel the dreams of our visitors,” he stated, arguing that the selective disruption risks damaging both the visitor experience and Santorini’s international reputation as a leading tourism destination.
Reference to Cruise Management Measures
Kavallaris also referred to existing cruise management measures on the island, including berth allocation procedures and the 70/30 distribution model.
According to his statement, these measures are not new and have been part of Santorini’s cruise management framework for years, with the exception of last year when special regulatory provisions were in place due to a Joint Ministerial Decision affecting the Fira anchorage area.
He questioned what exactly the mobilization seeks to overturn and who is ultimately intended to be affected by the action.
Call for Cooperation
Concluding his remarks, Kavallaris emphasized that local authorities remain willing to support the bus operators’ sector wherever possible. However, he stressed that such support must not come at the expense of local businesses, the island’s economy, or Santorini’s image as a world-renowned destination.
He also expressed confidence in the island’s long-term position within the cruise industry, noting that while cruise operators may adjust arrival schedules, Santorini remains a key destination on Mediterranean itineraries.
The statement comes at a time when the management of visitor flows and cruise tourism continues to be one of the most important issues facing the island, with discussions between stakeholders expected to continue in the coming days.
Read Panos Kavallaris’ full Facebook post here: [link]
Content Manager: Ambassador Mykonos Promo Kostas Skagias
