Business and legal representatives in Greece’s Cyclades islands are urging the government to establish a second subsidized ferry route, arguing that the lack of year-round inter-island connections is leaving parts of the archipelago increasingly isolated.
The Cyclades Chamber of Commerce and the Syros Bar Association have submitted a joint proposal to the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, calling for action to address what they describe as a major gap in the region’s ferry network.
According to the proposal, the main issue is the absence of a second subsidized inter-island route serving the eastern and southern Cyclades. The organizations say the current transport network fails to meet the needs of both residents and businesses, particularly during the winter months.
The Chamber of Commerce described the situation as critical, noting that even major tourist destinations such as Santorini remain effectively cut off from the regional administrative center and neighboring islands outside the peak travel season.
High costs and limited freight transport
The groups argue that the current ferry network often forces travelers to route journeys between Cyclades islands via the port of Piraeus near Athens, resulting in significantly higher costs, longer travel times and additional disruption for businesses.
While high-speed ferries improve passenger connectivity during the summer and support island-hopping tourism, they do not adequately address the year-round transportation of trucks, commercial goods and small freight shipments, the proposal states. As a result, the organizations say ferry planning should prioritize comprehensive transport services rather than passenger traffic alone.
A key obstacle, according to the Chamber, is the inclusion of Karystos in the planned subsidized route. The port’s infrastructure cannot accommodate conventional passenger and vehicle ferries, allowing access only for certain high-speed vessels.
The Chamber argues that this requirement has discouraged operators from bidding for the route, leaving the service inactive despite repeated tender procedures and increased public subsidies. It says the route is currently the only subsidized public-interest ferry service in Greece that remains non-operational.
Support from legal community
The Syros Bar Association backed the proposal, describing the situation as unacceptable and noting that one of the Cyclades’ two subsidized ferry routes has remained out of service for at least two years despite serving essential public needs.
The association said residents have virtually no practical way to travel between many Cyclades islands during the winter, while summer travel remains significantly more expensive than on commercially operated seasonal routes.
