Why Encouraging Cruise Ships To Dock At Amorgos Would Be A Greek Tragedy

A policy of restricting huge liners visiting popular Cyclades islands could have the unintended consequence of diverting mass tourism towards quieter islands

Imagine the perfect Greek island, a pristine enclave of slow tourism that’s remained unchanged for decades. Along the curve of a narrow bay whitewashed buildings line a quay, a rocky mountain face rearing up behind them. On the opposite side of the bay nestles a sleepy fishing village, where brightly painted traditional fishing boats are tied up in a marina. Small yachts moor along the quay where ferries dock a few times a day, bringing visitors or returning locals to the island.

Now imagine a procession of multistorey cruise liners docking here. Cruise liners that hold up to 1,400 passengers each when the entire permanent population of the island is about 2,000 people.