Ferry Services Started Between Thessaloniki and Izmir

Within the scope of the voyages to be made between İzmir and Thessaloniki, the first ship named “Smyrna di Levante” reached İzmir Port. Mustafa Özuslu, Deputy Mayor of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality, who visited the ship, Tunç SoyerDrawing attention to the initiatives initiated by İzmir in order to get the share it deserves from tourism, he said, “Cruise ships that have started to come back to the city, the start of İzmir-Midilli voyages, all of these serve the goal of making İzmir a world city. As the Metropolitan Municipality, we support all kinds of projects in this regard.”

Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerAfter the important initiatives made by İzmir to develop tourism, another historical step was taken for the city. Ferry services between Thessaloniki and Izmir, which have been on the agenda since 2011 but could not be made, started. Today, the first ropax (vehicle and passenger ship) named “Smyrna di Levante” has arrived in Izmir Port. At the press conference held on the ship, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Özuslu, Konak Mayor Abdül Batur, Greece-based ship company owner George Theodosis, Chamber of Shipping İzmir Branch Chairman Yusuf Öztürk, İzmir Chamber of Commerce (İZTO) Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Cemal Elmasoğlu, IZTO Assembly President Selami Özpoyraz, Greek Izmir Consul General Despoina Balkiza, sector representatives, domestic and foreign guests attended.

“All are parts of the whole”

İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Mustafa Özuslu said, “It is very important that the Thessaloniki-İzmir flights are starting. But other things were done before I got here. Our President Tunç SoyerThe initiatives of Izmir to revive the tourism of Izmir, the resumption of cruise tours and the Midilli-Izmir flights this summer are all parts of the whole. All of them serve the goal of making İzmir a world city. Tourism is also a part of them. This ship will carry both trucks, vehicles and passengers. There will be mutual expeditions. This will strengthen the relationship between the Turkish and Greek peoples, both tourism and trade. As Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, we support all kinds of projects on this subject. I say good luck,” he said.

“I want to congratulate those who have worked”

Konak Mayor Abdül Batur pointed out that it was an important day and said, “It is very important to evaluate this port in this way and to establish a bridge between two countries. I want to congratulate those who put their effort into this work. It has been a great service to our city,” he said.

Yusuf Öztürk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Izmir Branch of the Chamber of Shipping, said, “Izmir is a city that is the westernmost of the east and the easternmost of the west. When we combine Thessaloniki and Izmir, we become much closer to Europe. When we open this line, we unite two cultures and two countries.”

İzmir Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors Cemal Elmasoğlu pointed out that it is a project in which the common mind is activated and said: “It is in our hands to keep this line alive. For sustainable success, we have to be tighter together. I expect industry representatives to give serious support to this line.”