Within the next twenty-four hours, discounts on ferry tickets will be announced, as requested by the Federation of Families with Three Children, according to statements made to ERT by the Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy, Stefanos Gkikas. As he emphasized, the relevant intervention has been made and now circulars from the companies are expected.
Read: Kikilias announced additional reductions in ferry ticket prices
“Prices were kept stable even though it had been announced that ferry tickets would increase by 15% from May 1st, as the use of more environmentally friendly fuel is mandatory. From the first moment, the government and the minister himself, Vassilis Kikilias, said that this would not be allowed and indeed we kept prices stable. In fact, this may be the first time we have such large discount packages,” Stefanos Gkikas also said.
Regarding the reasons leading to more expensive tickets, he mentioned labor costs which, as he said, have increased by 25% over the last 4 years, repair expenses that rose by 15%, and fuel prices. “The fact that ferry prices were kept at 2024 and 2023 levels is a significant step and the government should be credited for this,” he added.
“We count thousands of inspections and any company that wants to increase the price of ferry tickets must report it to the ministry within 72 hours at the latest. We don’t have such incidents, such cases. In any case, you know that there is a Price Observatory that operates on our Ministry’s website where every citizen can compare ferry tickets across more than 40 routes,” Stefanos Gkikas also said.
“Safety above all”
“August is a difficult period and the personnel of the Coast Guard and the Hellenic Coast Guard are on the front line. For us, safety is above everything and we give special weight not only to ferry transport, but also to airplanes,” he added.
Regarding the incident in Thassos and the unacceptable conditions under which people with special needs and mobility problems travel or cannot travel, Stefanos Gkikas mentioned: “For two years now, there has been a laborious effort in the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy by the competent Directorates for the revision of the Presidential Decree. As soon as Mr. Kikilias took over, he pushed the issue even further.”
