Sunday, July 20, 2025
Greece has made further steps to develop its maritime tourism. Archipelagos invested €50m in creating a wave breaker in Ermioni, and Greece has leased sites for floating platforms in the coastal areas of Paros and Ermioni. These sea terraces for seasonal boat mooring will be vital to cater for a booming coastal tourism. Set in the well-visited spots of Faragas, Paros and Korakia, Ermioni – Porto Heli, these will act to better access to the waters with all standard safety and environmental requirements having been taken into account. The green light for these projects is a further proof of Greece’s commitment to modernizing its coastal infrastructure and enhancing sustainable touristic development that meets the needs of the local community and the wider tourism sector.
Authorities have granted approval for the installation of two floating platforms in the coastal regions of Paros and Ermioni, designed to enhance the local maritime infrastructure while supporting tourism activities and boat mooring. These developments come as part of ongoing efforts to improve coastal infrastructure, ensuring a balance between boosting tourism and adhering to legal, environmental, and cultural heritage protections.
Paros – Faragas Area
The General Secretariat for Ports, Port Policy, and Maritime Investments has granted approval for the establishment of a floating platform in the Faragas area of Paros, covering an area of 100 square meters. The platform will serve as a seasonal mooring station for boats, available for use for up to nine months per year. This initiative is under the management of the company Tourist Enterprises Aktis – Faragas Single-Member Ltd. The floating platform will facilitate the increasing demand for maritime tourism while maintaining adherence to stringent safety and operational guidelines.
A key aspect of the project is the addition of a 6-square-meter access walkway. The walkway will offer a means for users to access the platform but will only be constructed if necessary. The Port Authority will evaluate whether the walkway is required, with particular focus on its use in areas where alternative access may not be suitable. This access system is designed to be freestanding, non-fixed, and removable, providing flexibility to the design should modifications be required in the future.
The platform must meet a series of specific requirements set forth to ensure the safety of the surrounding environment and navigation. One of the critical stipulations is that the platform must maintain a safe distance from existing or planned port works. This is to prevent interference with any maritime projects that may be under development in the area. Additionally, the platform must avoid maritime hazards such as shipwrecks, tidal zones, or areas with underwater cables and pipelines. To further safeguard the waterways, the platform cannot obstruct navigational channels or interfere with maritime transport routes, ensuring there is no disruption to the regular movement of vessels.
By following these regulations, the platform will provide safe, efficient mooring while adhering to the necessary maritime laws, reducing any potential hazards for both the tourism industry and general maritime traffic in the area.
Ermioni – Korakia, Porto Heli
Similarly, in Ermioni, the General Secretariat has approved the installation of a floating platform in the Korakia area of Porto Heli, near the Amanzoe Beach Club. This platform will cover an area of 118.08 square meters and will also be used for seasonal boat mooring, allowing boats to stay for up to nine months a year. The project is managed by AZOE Resort Single-Member S.A. Like the Paros platform, this initiative will support the growing demand for maritime tourism in the region while upholding strict adherence to nautical safety regulations.
The installation of this platform will follow similar guidelines as the Paros platform, including maintaining strict safety measures for navigation and environmental impact. The platform is intended to facilitate smooth access to the waters for boats and their passengers while ensuring that it is compatible with local environmental policies and cultural considerations. As in Paros, the platform will be used exclusively for seasonal mooring of boats, and it is not intended for year-round operation.
In the event that archaeological findings are discovered during the installation process, the protocol is clear: all work must cease immediately. The Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, the relevant authority in charge of cultural heritage sites, must be notified immediately, and any further work must adhere to the necessary legal and archaeological oversight. This measure is in place to ensure that the area’s cultural heritage is respected and preserved, in line with Greek laws that protect underwater antiquities and archaeological sites.
Environmental and Safety Considerations
Both floating platforms, while designed to support tourism and boat mooring activities, are subject to strict environmental and safety regulations. These regulations are in place to preserve the natural beauty of the coastal areas and protect both the local ecosystem and maritime transport routes.
The platforms are designed to be freestanding and non-permanent, allowing for easy removal if necessary. This flexibility is particularly important in areas with shifting environmental conditions or potential future development projects. The freestanding nature of the platforms ensures that they do not permanently alter the landscape or the marine environment, and they can be moved or disassembled should the need arise.
Both projects are part of a broader strategy to enhance the local infrastructure in line with the growing demand for maritime tourism. The permits reflect an ongoing effort to balance the benefits of tourism with the need for safeguarding natural, environmental, and cultural resources. These initiatives also support Greece’s broader strategy of promoting sustainable tourism, which ensures that the development of new facilities and services does not come at the expense of the environment or local heritage.
The approval of the floating platforms in Paros and Ermioni highlights the ongoing investment in Greece’s coastal infrastructure, facilitating better tourism experiences while maintaining a strong commitment to environmental protection and cultural heritage preservation. Both projects aim to meet the growing demand for seasonal boat mooring, catering to the influx of tourists in these popular areas, while ensuring compliance with maritime safety regulations and cultural preservation laws.
The Greek government licences floating platforms in Paros and Ermioni for tourist sector and temporary mooring purposes. The platforms will help enhance coastal infrastructure and contribute to local tourism development in both areas.
These floating structures are crucial to Greece’s efforts to increase its tourism infrastructure and to provide special, eco-friendly tourist experiences. In this way new development projects are based on legal, environmental, and cultural ground, thus boosting the long-term sustainability of tourism development on the Greek coast.
