The passenger shipping sector links the approximately 115 inhabited islands of Greece with the mainland. Although the sector operates mainly on Greek territory, it is part of the ecosystem of activities that support tourism, so it contributes significantly to the openness of the Greek economy. Transporting freight by sea from and to the mainland, it facilitates agriculture, manufacturing, trade, and the development of the island economies, considering that most goods are transported to and from the islands by trucks that travel onboard passenger vessels. In this way, the coastal maritime sector is tightly connected with Greece's economic development. The contribution of passenger shipping to the economy includes the direct, indirect, and induced effects of the transportation services by sea (domestic and Adriatic passenger routes), together with the wider effects associated with the development of other sectors (such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and exports) through freight and passenger transportation over regular shipping routes. The total contribution of the coastal maritime sector, in terms of GDP, is estimated at €13.6 billion ($16.6 billion) or 7.4% of the GDP of Greece in 2019. In terms of employment, its contribution is estimated at approximately 332,000 jobs (8.5% of total employment). Additionally, its contribution to public revenues is estimated at approximately €3 billion ($3.7 billion), whereas the employee salaries supported by the development of passenger shipping in the country are estimated at almost €1.8 billion ($2.2 billion).
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