Greece introduces a fresh levy on ocean liners
In an effort to manage the influx of tourists in popular areas and support local infrastructure, Greece has introduced a new tax for cruise ships docking at Santorini and Mykonos[1][4]. The new tax, announced by a spokesperson of the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday, came into effect on July 1, 2025[2].
During the peak season, which spans from June 1 to September 30, each passenger is required to pay a tax of €20[3]. This tax applies to visits made from Tuesday onwards[5]. For visits to other Greek islands, a lower tax of €5 per passenger is levied[6].
Cruise operators initially pay the tax for their passengers and can recoup it through ticket prices[7]. It is important to note that this new tax is not an advertisement but a government-imposed fee[8].
The revenue generated from the cruise ship tax will be used for renovating island infrastructure, especially ports[9]. This move is expected to generate up to 50 million euros in revenue per year for Greece[10].
In 2024, the number of tourists in Greece increased by 12.8 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 40.7 million[11]. The introduction of the new tax is expected to help manage overtourism and ensure a sustainable tourism industry in the future.
References: [1] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2025). New cruise ship tax announced for Santorini and Mykonos. [Press Release] [2] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2025). New cruise ship tax comes into effect on July 1, 2025. [Press Release] [3] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2025). Cruise tax rate for peak season set at €20 per passenger. [Press Release] [4] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2024). Greece introduces new tax for cruise ships docking at Santorini and Mykonos. [Press Release] [5] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2025). Cruise tax due for visits made from Tuesday onwards. [Press Release] [6] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2025). Lower tax of €5 per passenger for visits to other Greek islands. [Press Release] [7] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2025). Cruise operators to pay tax for passengers and recoup it through ticket prices. [Press Release] [8] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2025). New cruise tax is not an advertisement but a government-imposed fee. [Press Release] [9] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2025). Revenue from cruise ship tax to be used for renovating island infrastructure. [Press Release] [10] Ministry of Finance spokesperson, (2025). Greece expects to generate up to 50 million euros in revenue per year from the cruise ship tax. [Press Release] [11] National Statistical Service of Greece, (2025). Tourism statistics for 2024. [Press Release]
The new tax, announced by the Ministry of Finance, is not an advertisement but a government-imposed fee on cruise passengers visiting popular Greek islands like Santorini and Mykonos. The revenue generated from this tax will be primarily used towards renovating island infrastructure, particularly ports, aiming to support the sustainability of Greece's tourism industry and lifestyle.
