Samos to benefit from ferry opening

A new ferry service to the Greek island of Samos is breathing new life into the island's property market, it is claimed.

The ferry, launched in May, brings passengers from Bodrum, Turkey, and is part of an initiative by the Greek government to increase the number of tourists, and therefore demand for holiday lettings and investment.

It is expected to increase the number of visitors to the little known island by 50,000 by 2009. Overall the Greek government has set a target of increasing tourism throughout the islands by 50% by 2013 amid fears that the country has lost out to cheaper destinations like Bulgaria, Turkey and Croatia.

'Greece has many fine qualities. The historic significance of the country needs to be experienced to be appreciated,' said a tourist office spokesman.

'In particular we want to entice people to islands that they might not know about. Samos is largely untouched and is the first to benefit from this initiative. It is said to be the birthplace of Hera, Mother of the Gods, and the remains of her temple can still be seen today,' he added.

Samos is on the south eastern corner of the Greek Islands along Turkey's west coast. It has typical meandering streets, tavernas and a bustling waterfront. It is one of the most fertile of the Greek islands and is covered with vineyards. There are also direct flights from the UK during the summer.

'An increase in visitors is to be welcomed. The new ferry route is an excellent incentive to look at buying property on the island and benefit from this new influx of visitors. It is a charming place to invest in,' said Robin Barrasford, managing director of agents Barrasford & Bird Worldwide.

'Couple this with direct flights from the UK, and Samos will undoubtedly see a huge increased in tourism and revenue from tourism in the coming years,' he added.

The company also points out that the Greek government has made it easier for foreign investors.

BOOKMARK THIS PAGE (What is this?)