Greek ferry boat operators reportedly agree to discounts for certain categories of passengers; fares surge this season

Ferry boat operators plying Greek waters have reportedly agreed to extend “major discounts” for beneficiaries with “social tourism” vouchers, beginning on Aug. 1.

The same reports cite a discount of up to 50 percent for such beneficiaries, with another forecast – still unconfirmed – pointing to eligible Greek citizens paying one-tenth of the pricey ferry tickets, when calculating the state’s subsidization via the social tourism program.

The reports come in the wake of a high-profile meeting at the Maximos Mansion government house between relevant ministers and representatives of the coastal shipping sector, with the former reportedly giving the latter a deadline to come up with proposals to lower fares, at least for certain categories of travelers.

The affected ferry routes are ones that include the main mainland ports, such as Piraeus, Rafina (east of Athens proper), Thessaloniki and Kavala, in northern Greece.

Although fuel costs have significantly eased over the past two months, certain ferry boat routes – especially to the hugely popular Cyclades – have surged upwards this season, making sea travel much more expensive for the average Greek household.

According to the same reports, ferry boat operators, on their part, tabled various issues affecting the sector, such as operational losses from recent years and incentives to replace older vessels. They also committed to presenting specific proposals, within days, to control surging fare prices.