Santorini’s Cruise Operations Adjusted Due to Cycladic Seismic Activity

Ongoing seismic activity in the Cyclades is starting to affect tourism operations on Santorini. The Viking Star, which was set to kick off the cruise season in this popular Aegean destination, has changed its itinerary and will now dock at Port Chania (Crete) on February 10th, instead of the Santorini Caldera.

Despite being a well-known tourist spot, Santorini has a small population of only 15,000–20,000 residents. In 2023, it attracted 3.4 million visitors via air, ferry, and cruise ships, making its economic stability highly reliant on tourism. Cruise arrivals are pivotal, but even if seismic activity calms, the implementation of new landslide protections will lead to the closure of several ports, including Ammoudi, Armeni, Korfos, and the Old Port of Fira. This will require careful management of docking locations by both cruise lines and the port authority, although the continued operation of the Athinios port may help mitigate the situation.

There are concerns within the industry about whether the tourism market will fully reopen by Easter, which is essential for both Catholic and Orthodox travelers. If the seismic tremors persist, there is a possibility that Santorini could miss out on the Easter tourism season, as well as important domestic travel during Carnival, Clean Monday, and the national holiday on March 25th.

That said, experts believe that established tourist destinations often recover quickly once conditions improve. For instance, Rhodes rebounded after the wildfires last year. As of now, there have been no cancellations from airlines, cruise operators, or other key players. The outcome of the upcoming season hinges on how the seismic activity unfolds and how well the protective measures are executed.

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