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Higher prices for foreign boats at local marina
By Leo Leonidou

What they’re doing is illegal and blatant discrimination’

THE CYPRUS Tourism Organisation (CTO) is still waiting for the House of Representatives to regulate prices for berthing a vessel at the island’s marinas.

Englishman Mark Jones contacted the Mail to complain that he had been quoted a higher figure by Larnaca Marina for his boat than one of his Cypriot associates.

“The difference per day was only €3.40 but it’s the principle that I am against. What they’re doing is illegal and blatant discrimination and the government must do something about it,” he said.

A call to the marina however put the daily rate at 51 cents per metre per day, for everybody, with prices changing depending on how long a berth is required for.

A former director of the Marina told the Mail that the House was asked to look into the law over a year ago, but has still not passed the relevant legislation but that operators were still waiting.

He added that the CTO, which runs the marinas, believes that prices should be uniform – not only for EU Member States but for all countries.

He said he sympathised with Jones, saying, “He is absolutely right.”

“The price should be the same for everybody, regardless of nationality.”

Current CTO Director-General Phoebe Katsourides agreed. “We have sent new, modified rates to the government and these abide with EU regulations, with no discrimination, and we hope very soon to have the amended legislation passed.”

She added that the current price lists are a relic from the past.

“In the 1970s and 80s, there was more demand from foreign yachts and no room for local ones. But over the years, Cypriots have become more affluent and now, Cypriot applications outnumber foreign ones as the locals are more involved in nautical tourism. We want to accommodate everybody on an equal footing.”

Last Friday, the tender for the development and expansion of Larnaca Marina was granted to the Zenon Consortium, one of three bidders for the project.

A statement said the DBFO (Design-Build-Finance-Operate) project was the most important infrastructural work in Larnaca after the new airport and would set Laranca apart as a tourist destination in its own right.

The project, which will link the marina with the port, is designed to turn Larnaca into the main passenger hub of Cyprus with the possibility of catering for large cruise ships. The marina itself will be able to facilitate some 800 yachts. Larnaca Marina currently only has space for 200.


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