Greek Shipping Minister Christos Stylianides said that over 100,000 express visas were issued to Turkish tourists visiting designated Greek islands during a meeting in Turkey with his Turkish counterpart Abdulkadir Uraloglu.
Stylianides, who was on a two-day official visit (Nov. 21-22) to the neighboring country, hailed the initiative providing short-term visas, a scheme allowing Turkish citizens to spend time in select Greek islands, as a major success.
During this summer season, approximately 400,000 Turkish tourists traveled by ferry to major Greek islands such as Lesvos, Samos, Chios, and Rhodes, taking advantage of the express visas. The strong flow of visitors from the Turkish coast to nearby Greek islands remains robust. According to the North Aegean Regional Police Authority, an additional 54,373 visas were issued for just three northeastern Aegean islands by the end of August.
“Turkey and Greece are not just neighbors; we are partners, especially in the maritime sector,” said Minister Stylianides after meeting with Turkish Minister of Transport Abdulkadir Uraloglu.
The Greek Minister underlined that the two nations have a long-standing partnership within the International Maritime Organization (IMO), characterized by close and productive collaboration. “We have supported each other on various occasions, and today, we agreed to continue on this path. The Greek-Turkish cooperation within the IMO is an exemplary model of constructive collaboration between two countries in an international framework,” he said.
The Greek minister briefed his Turkish counterpart on European initiatives within the IMO, particularly regarding decarbonization. He reaffirmed Greece’s commitment to adhering to international rules and obligations, ensuring maritime safety, protecting trade routes, decarbonizing shipping, and preserving the marine environment, especially during a time of geopolitical uncertainties. Both ministers reiterated their commitment to further enhancing their cooperation in the maritime sector.
