By: Anastasios Konstantaros, Welcome Ashore Greece

The sea has always been part of who we are. For those of us born and raised on the Greek islands, it is more than a holiday destination – it’s the cornerstone of our livelihoods and our identity.

As a business founder and entrepreneur, I have for many years dedicated my work to building connections between Greece’s land and sea – helping promote our islands whilst preserving the traditions that make them unique.

That’s why I am honoured and excited to be joining Welcome Ashore as an ambassador for Greece. Welcome Ashore is a movement that puts local voices at the heart of the tourism conversation. Together, we are advocating for a balanced discussion that properly appreciates the value of cruise tourism whilst also ensuring that it respects our coastal communities and their people. 

Cruise visitors are a powerful driver for local prosperity in Greece, with the sector adding more than €2 billion to the national economy and supporting around 22,600 jobs in 2023 alone. According to Mykonos Port Authority’s 2025 forecast, each cruise passenger will spend an average of €107 during their stop, money that disperses through local hands and helps sustain both established businesses and emerging entrepreneurs. This is more than the €89 average for all tourists.

Yet, despite these contributions, public debates about cruise tourism are too often negative, an imbalance that I do not believe reflects the voices of those who live and work in our island communities and who benefit from cruise tourism.

Welcome Ashore was created to change that – to ensure local people are at the heart of the conversation about cruise tourism. We aim to foster authentic collaboration between residents, authorities, and the tourism industry to build a smarter, more sustainable future.

Our islands – from Santorini and Mykonos to Rhodes and beyond – have become global icons of beauty and culture, for good reason. But with this recognition comes responsibility. We must protect our natural environment and preserve the authenticity that makes Greece a destination unlike any other. Responsible cruise tourism, supported by cleaner technologies and community-led planning, can help us achieve this balance.

Debates and decisions about the future of tourism are already happening – with or without local voices. If we do not speak up, others will define our future for us. What’s at stake is how we can safeguard our islands’ distinctive character and ensure tourism enriches – not overwhelms – our communities.

Together, we can create a model of tourism that respects our heritage, strengthens our economy, and ensures that our islands remain places where Greek people can live, work, and thrive now and in the future.

If you share my vision, I invite you to join the Welcome Ashore community today.