Introduction
Maritime tourism is a branch of the tourism product of Epirus. Maritime tourism is a dynamically developing tourism activity for which the necessary promotion has not been done. Maritime tourism has activities and interests that are addressed to all ages and to all economic and social strata of Greek and foreign tourists.
INFRASTRUCTURE.
The beaches of Epirus are offered for maritime tourism, for specialized and for mass tourism if the maritime and land infrastructures are completed.
1) Quick completion in Igoumenitsa of the pier and the cruise terminal for attracting cruise ships. The cruises attract many tourists who make a big turnover in the market, in the restaurants and leisure shops as well as in the buses, taxis and rental cars to visit the sights of the area and the archeological sites of Epirus.
2) Completion of the procedures for the auction of the modern marina in Igoumenitsa for the attraction of yachts – yachts – sailing boats and yachts. The tourists of this category are people of high income and give great development in the region. Many jobs will be created with a lot of income for the state. The two aforementioned projects are mainly the responsibility of OLIGAE. The new administration of OL.GA.E. has shown keen interest in promoting them quickly to make up for lost time of the previous administration.
3) Proper organization – maintenance and upgrade of services provided in the existing yacht shelters of coastal villages from Sagiada to Preveza due to easy access through Egnatia even in winter there is overcrowding for mooring and guarding boats.
DYNAMIC ADVERTISING and promotion of maritime tourism with a special printed guide with a nautical chart, a separate site on the internet, presentation in specialized exhibitions in Greece and abroad and educational trips of schools with sailing boats and cruises.
Sea sports. Here is a brilliant field of action for young people from 7 to 77 years old. We are in the middle of summer and the excursions to the Ionian coast are massive, it is not enough just to swim and sunbathe on all organized beaches there are businesses with all the necessary water sports. Ask your instructor to teach you water skiing, rent a canoe, a pedal boat, a motocraft and go out in the open, always respecting the rules of navigation. The prices are very affordable, take diving lessons from an experienced diving instructor and enjoy or a boat ride to visit the remote beaches, caves and take with you fishing gear for amateur fishing.
WATER SPORTS .In all cases you require from the L / C to have obtained from the respective school a license to operate a speedboat.
Group and organize by creating in all the coastal villages nautical clubs for more organized water sports activities, take as an example the successful nautical club of Igoumenitsa.
The Ionian Sea is a calm sea suitable for water sports from March to October.
You can rent a sailing boat or yacht with your friends or family if you have the necessary pilot license you take it yourself if you do not rent it with the crew, prices vary depending on the season, how many people and for how many days out of 100 up to 200 euros per day. You will find them in Plataria, Sivota, Parga etc.
Ancillary activities: In order for all the activities of maritime tourism to be properly organized and to function properly, there must be support activities from the involved services such as the central port authority, OLIG. Municipality, shipping-tourist offices, unions, but also the necessary shops with shipping supplies, catering, fishing equipment and boat maintenance. All these activities will create new jobs. Also, most of the above activities in maritime tourism are part of subsidized programs of OAED, the NSRF and the development law. Those who are eager to invest in maritime tourism take the opportunity.
EpilogueThe three main reasons that prompted me to write this article are: a) my love for the sea, I have been a sailor for a short time, I still have the navy booklet and I have a speedboat pilot license, b) my love for tourism, I am the owner of the tourism companies OLYMPIC and HOLIDAY ZIGOS in the N. Port of Igoumenitsa – Graikochori and Mesovouni and c) I found that the people of Epirus are traditionally a mountainous people, the majority of them is familiar with the sea, does not enjoy the goods of maritime tourism and does not invest in the professions of maritime tourism.
I hope with my article to motivate some.
With price
Zigos Christos
