Government on expensive ferries: "Go to your villages, not to the islands"

Deputy Minister of Immigration and Asylum Sophia Vultepsi, answering a question about rapidly rising ferry fares and generally about high prices and low wages that prevent every third citizen of the country from taking a summer vacation, said that “People find ways out and can go to the village, go to the mainland, to the islands, of course, there is a problem.”

A little earlier, trying to convince us that the high cost of living in Greece is not the main thing (!), she was outraged by the prices in… Berlin: “I was in Berlin, and a schnitzel (she shows the size of the schnitzel with her hands) cost 32 euros, and not in an expensive restaurant.” In her opinion, we should be happy to live in a country like Greece with such a low cost of living.

Of course, as a member of parliament and deputy minister, Sofia Vultepsi has a salary and means to go on holiday anywhere and spend it in luxury, unlike most Greek citizens who cannot afford to spend their month, let alone go on holiday to exotic destinations. And salaries in Germany are completely different…

It is clear that with such an income, officials do not have to think about such trifles as price. for a ferry ride for 500-1200 euros for a family of 4 with a car. However, they should still remember (not only before the elections) that Greece is a country with many islands, and ordinary people live on these islands, and not all of them have the income of a minister. And these people, for various reasons, need to go either to a neighboring island or to the mainland. And vice versa, there are other people who live on the mainland, for example, in Athens and want to visit their parents (father's house) on the island. With current prices, such a trip will be unlikely…

For reference

How much will a sea “trip” cost for a family of 4: 2 adults, 2 children (50% discount) and 1 normal-sized car.

1. Piraeus – Paros – Piraeus (regular, non-high-speed ferry):

• 2024: 534 euros

2. Piraeus – Heraklion – Piraeus (traditional ferry):

• 2024: 564 euros

3. Piraeus – Sifnos – Piraeus (traditional ferry):

• 2024: 546 euros

4. Piraeus – Rhodes – Piraeus (regular ship, four-berth cabin):

• 2024: 1019 euros

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