Listen: what's behind the rise and rise of Greece as a superyacht destination?

With more than 6,000 islands and islets, a rich history and culture, and a favourable climate, it’s no surprise that Greece is becoming a premier superyacht hub in the Mediterranean. In fact, according to a report by Allied Market Research, “the luxury travel industry in Greece is set to reach a value of $2.7 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.5 per cent.”

Leading this growth is Fraser Greece, which has observed a significant increase in demand for Greece as a charter destination over the past year. In an exclusive interview with BOAT’s editor-in-chief Stewart Campbell, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, Fraser Greece’s managing director and sales broker Vassilis Fotilas, along with charter director Popy Kaia, delve into the driving forces behind this surge.

It's been nearly a year since Fraser acquired one of Greece’s leading yachting companies, Atalanta Golden Yachts. The acquisition followed a significant surge in charter demand in Greece, with Fraser reporting a 94 per cent increase in the number of yachts available for charter over the past four years. Fotilas highlights a "stable" government, extensive construction activity and a robust tourism industry as key factors contributing to the current boom.

The recent liberalisation of charter regulations also appears to be a major driver of this growth, simplifying the process for yachts to charter in Greece. "Up until now, only yachts with a Greek charter license were able to cruise Greece," Kaia explains. "But a recent new law now allows international commercial yachts over 35 metres to charter in Greece for up to 28 days."

Fotilas attributes the primary reason for this growth to the increase in the number and size of locally available yachts for charter in recent years. “We find that the majority of clients wanting to charter prefer locally based boats with Greek crews who know Greece like the back of their hand,” he says. Kaia adds: “It’s important to have a captain and crew with both charter and local experience.”

However, charter bookings have seen some changes this year. Kaia explains there was a dip in bookings since February, but a surge in last-minute bookings from June onwards, a departure from previous years when charterers often complained about a lack of availability. Fotilas notes a similar trend in yacht sales, observing that people’s habits have changed recently. “We’re seeing more savvy buyers who know what they want, and sometimes the boats on the market don’t cater to their preferences,” he says. Fotilas, Kaia, and Stewart discuss several potential reasons for these changes.

The professionalism of the Fraser Greece team enables them to successfully accommodate last-minute, high-profile clients with charter yachts such as the 95-metre O’Pari within just 48 hours. The team prides itself on strong, long-standing relationships with their yachts' captains, many of whom they have been working with since the captains started out as deckhands, in order to offer such a high standard of service.

The full interview is now available to stream below.

For more information about Fraser Greece’s portfolio of charter yachts on the market, contact the team today.

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