A shipping company’s interest in a new route to Türkiye has prompted calls to include Astypalaia in the express visa programme and prepare its port for international arrivals.
Dodecanese MP Manos Konsolas is calling for Astypalaia’s inclusion in the Visa Express programme and the development of essential port facilities, through a parliamentary intervention addressed to the ministers responsible for foreign affairs, shipping and citizen protection.
According to his October 1, 2026 press release, a shipping company has expressed interest in operating a high-speed ferry between Astypalaia and Bodrum. Konsolas argues that the proposed connection could increase arrivals from Türkiye and open a new tourism market for the island.
He identifies two key requirements: extending the express visa programme through summer 2027 and adding Astypalaia, and upgrading the island’s port to accommodate services to and from a country outside the European Union.
The necessary facilities would include a passport control checkpoint, appropriate staffing by the Hellenic Police and the other infrastructure required for an international entry point.
The press release states that the Visa Express programme, introduced in 2024, has been extended until April 2027. It allows Turkish visitors to obtain permission for stays of up to seven days through a simplified procedure. In the Dodecanese, participating islands include Rhodes, Kos, Leros, Kalymnos, Symi, Kastellorizo and Patmos.
Konsolas maintains that the programme has helped increase visitor numbers from Türkiye. He is asking the three ministries to clarify their plans for its renewal and expansion, whether they will support improvements to Astypalaia’s port, and whether a properly staffed entry point is under consideration.
The ferry connection remains a proposal based on expressed commercial interest. The parliamentary intervention seeks to establish the conditions needed for it to move forward.
Source: Press release issued by Manos Konsolas, October 1, 2026.
