Cruise ship

Türkiye surpasses cruise passenger target

According to Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, the number of cruise ships and passengers that visited Türkiye has reached a record level in 2023.

Uraloğlu evaluated the statistics announced by the General Directorate of Maritime Affairs on the number of cruise ships and passengers anchored in Turkish ports.

Two major US cruise operators interested in buying Lavrio port

The tender for the concession of Lavrio port is set to begin in the next few weeks.

Sources tell Kathimerini there are at least two major cruise companies from the US that are interested, even though the utilization of the port proceeds with the sale of 67% of shares and not the concession of the cruise pier.

Belgium canal city of Bruges hits 'red line' with tourist crowds

Inhabitants of Belgium's cobblestone-and-canal city of Bruges are clear: Summertime tourism has hit capacity.

"It's really reached a red line now," says one, 55-year-old architect Arnout Goegebuer, as he sits inside a cafe, peering out a window across a packed outside terrace.

"We don't need more tourists anymore, it's enough - maybe a little bit less" is needed, he says.

Some 420 cruise ships visit Turkey in six months

Some 420 cruise ships have visited Türkiye's ports in the first six months of 2023, according to data from the directorate general of maritime affairs.

The number of cruise passengers, including arriving, departing and transit travelers, climbed from 256,000 from January-June 2022 to 483,000 in the same period this year.

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