The heart of the world yachting beat loudly on the island of Poros,
with the big tourist boat show East Med Yacht Show 2023 opens its gates to the public.
The grtraveller was there to bring you every detail!
The picturesque island of Poros came alive as the much anticipated East Med Yacht Show 2023 opened its doors to visitors and yachting enthusiasts from all over the world. The exhibition, which started on Thursday 4 May and lasted for 3 days, was attended by a large opening ceremony attended by a huge audience.
The event started with the speeches moderated by Mr. Manolis Stefanakis, vice president of EPEST (Hellenic Association of Owners of Professional Yachts). Mr. Stefanakis underlined the close relationship between yachting and the Naval Salon in Poros, stressing the deep love of the island for yachting enthusiasts.
The Mayor of Poros, Mr. Yannis Dimitriadis, took to the stage and stressed the importance of yachting in the development of the island. He expressed his gratitude for the recognition of the port of Poros as the best tourist port in Greece, awarded by the Sailing Association and managed by the Municipal Port Fund.
Mr. Antonis Stelliatos, president of EPEST, drew attention to the presence of Greek and foreign flagged boats at the exhibition and called on the government to support the Greek flag. He also called for the construction of marinas and urged the parliamentary candidates to contribute to increasing the contribution of maritime tourism from 1.5% to 5% of GDP.
Ms. Barbara Gavriel, head of the East Med Yacht Show organization, expressed her gratitude to the Mayor of Poros for granting access to the port and acknowledged the efforts of her colleagues and yacht brokers for organizing the successful event.
Giorgos Vernikos, from the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises, welcomed the return of the Maritime Salon in Poros, praising the growing popularity of yachting and commending the cooperation efforts of businesses, the local government and the Coast Guard.
The inauguration ceremony was completed with the cutting of the ribbon by the Mayor of Poros, the representative of the Ministry of Tourism and the President of EPEST. Attendees included, among others, important political personalities and parliamentarians.
The East Med Yacht Show 2023 has delivered on its promise to be an exceptional gathering of breathtaking yachts, showcasing the beauty and luxury of the yachting world. Focusing on Poros, the event serves as a platform for industry professionals, yacht brokers and yachting enthusiasts to explore the latest trends and make fruitful connections.
As the exhibition unfolded, visitors were treated to an impressive display of around 100 boats elegantly anchored in the charming port of Poros. The boats, adorned with flags from Greece, Bulgaria, Italy, Germany and Malta, highlighted the international charm of the event.
Throughout the event, the message of sustainable development and environmental balance resonated strongly. The speakers stressed the need for responsible practices in the field of marine tourism, underlining the importance of preserving the natural beauty and ecological integrity of the Saronic Gulf and its surroundings.
As the sun set over the stunning island of Poros, the East Med Yacht Show continued to captivate visitors with the elegance, charm and promise of a thriving yachting industry. The exhibition undoubtedly left a lasting impression on the participants, paving the way for new partnerships, innovations and a better future for yachting in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Antonis Stelliatos, President of EPEST, speaks exclusively to grtraveller:
Lillian Psyla: Antony hello, thank you very much for accepting our invitation. Tell us a few words about the event, so that the people who read us know what it is about East Med Yacht Show.
Antonis Stelliatos: Hi Lillian, thank you for the invitation. The East Med Yacht Show (EMMYS) was held for the first time in 2002 in Poros. For 14 consecutive years, Poros celebrated EMMYS. For two years – due to some problems in the Port of Poros, EMMYS was moved to the Zea Marina in Piraeus, but it did not have the same impact as it had on the island of Poros. So this year we decided that for the next 4 years EMMYS will take place in Poros. We are delighted to be the birthplace of the show, which is one of the top 10 yacht shows in the world.
L.P.: Was the number of participants finally satisfactory?
AS: More than satisfactory, because suddenly in Poros again – after 7 years of absence, to have 100 ships and 300 foreign yacht brokers was a great success for us. Of course we have to mention the 30 stands of businessmen involved in marine tourism and yachting. It was a great success and we hope that next year will be even better for Poros and Greek marine tourism.
L.P.: We are sure and we will be there to cover it! What is the highlight of this year’s event?
AS: Good question. It’s the partnership we had with Barbara Gabriel, because Barbara has the largest fleet of crewed catamarans in the Mediterranean.
L.P.: What is the advantage of marine tourism in Greece compared to countries like Croatia, Italy, France?
AS: We are the only country in the world with 5,000 islands and islets, 16,000km of coastline, each island has its own colour, its own history, its own cuisine, and let’s not forget that no matter which sea you sail in, whether Aegean or Ionian, you breathe an air of culture and history, elements unique in the world. So we cannot be compared to any other country in the world when it comes to marine tourism.
L.P.: Do governments in general support marine tourism? Do general governments generally support marine tourism? Do general governments generally invest in tourism? Do they invest in tourism? What is your view?
AS: The most important thing is the infrastructure. We don’t have marinas. We have so many big boats and megayachts that want to dock and have no space. So it is imperative to create marinas if we want to promote marine tourism. I think that tourism is not a matter of parties or colours. It is a national issue. Any government should help marine tourism and tourism in general, because it is a huge force for the development of the country.
L.P.: What is the current situation with the infrastructure in the marinas?
Are they well organised or do they need further investment and improvements?
AS: I think that the marinas Zea, Flisvos (which will be done), Vouliagmeni (which has been done) are extremely well organized marinas. Beyond that, there are in Rhodes, Kos and in the Ionian Sea, Corfu and Lefkada in particular, there are remarkable marinas. Beyond that, chaos. Where to invest first and what to do. There has to be mapping because to make a marina, you need 105 documents.
L.P.: You think that VAT in Greece is competitive compared to other countries, always referring to your industry.
AS: It’s not competitive. It is not competitive. Mind you, neighbouring countries range from 0% to 12% , while we are at 24%.
L.P.: Do you think marine tourism will benefit from the investment in the Greek and if so, how?
AS: It’s a huge investment and a remarkable project – of course there will be a marina there, but it will be used by the customers of Elliniko, not by foreigners. There are discussions about its development, but we have not yet had any development. Certainly, though, it is still a huge project and will help the Riviera significantly. In general, the Ministries of Tourism, Shipping and Finance should work closely with the local government, regions and municipalities and build up marine tourism to show the value of Greece.
