29 September 2011

Greek Economy Crisis not Effecting Charter

super yacht charter Greece
Hardly a day goes by without world politicians and economists lamenting the financial woes of Greece. The country owes a staggering €305 billion, with little hope of being able to pay the colossal amount back. However, luxury charter yachts in Greece are still on course despite the country’s debt crisis, its financial difficulties, which look set to threaten the economic stability of the entire world, have done little to dent the country’s tourism industry which includes a buoyant super yacht charter industry
The number of foreign visitors – including a large number of clients on board luxury charter yachts – to Greece this year is set to reach a record high of 16.5 million. That is up 12 per cent from 2010, according to the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises. Sorely needed revenue is expected to increase by the same rate, netting €11 billion. Super yacht charters around the Greek islands are still amongst the most popular in the Mediterranean, and it is easy to see why. There are more than 1400 islands of all shapes and sizes scattered in the Ionian and Aegean Sea, each with a unique character and enough charm to help you quickly forget the Greek’s economical crisis.
The islands account for one-fifth of the country's land mass, with the majority clustered in the Aegean Sea between the Greek and Turkish coasts. Meanwhile the Ionian Islands are scattered along the west coast in the Ionian Sea whilst the Sporades and the Cyclades – an archipelago of 39 islands – are located off the central mainland. Crete, Greece’s largest and most populated island, lies in splendid isolation in the south of the Aegean Sea.  The island is a wonderful destination to explore on super yacht charter as it boasts a number of fascinating ports such as Heraklion and Rethimno, as well as a plethora of small anchorages and coves which seem a million miles from mainland Greece. Luxury charter yachts can also explore the eastern Dodecanese islands of Kasos, Karpathos, Symi and Rhodes from their base in Crete. Symi is particularly magical, and those luckily enough to sample its charms will surely feel a world apart from the Greek debt crisis as they sip an ouzo or glass or local retsina on the waterfront.