The rising cost of ferry and air travel for residents of Kalymnos and other islands is the focus of a statement issued on 24 September 2026 by Mikes Zirounis, a South Aegean regional councilor and vice-president of the region’s Executive Committee. Travel, he stresses, is essential for work, education, healthcare and everyday life.
Zirounis says ferry fares have risen by 43% over three years, compared with cumulative inflation of 18% over the same period, according to figures cited in his statement. He describes the financial strain on families, students and patients who need to travel to Athens or another island, warning of what he calls “exclusion because of cost”.
He argues that expensive tickets also affect the wider island economy. When traveling to Kalymnos becomes unaffordable, he says, small businesses, accommodation providers, restaurants and shops all feel the impact.
Zirounis criticizes the government and the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms. He calls for measures to strengthen competition and improve transparency in contract awards, and urges the Dodecanese MPs in the governing majority to press for solutions that ease the burden on island residents.
“Access to the rest of Greece should not be considered a luxury. It is a right,” he concludes.
