The Greek Island of Samos is benefitting from new ferry service and increased government investment designed to increase tourism. While much of the coastline of this eastern Aegean island is dotted with popular resorts, many outside of Greece and Turkey have not heard of the splendors of Samos.
The new ferry was launched in May and it travels between Bodrum, Turkey and Samos Town’s major port of Vathi. It is expected that by the end of 2009 the new ferry will bring 50,000 visitors to the island from Turkey. The new service is partly a result of the government’s investment in Greece as a tourism and international property destination. The Greek government has set a target of increasing tourism throughout the islands by 50% by 2013.
In addition to the new Samos- Bodrum ferry service, there is also regular ferry service to Kusadesi in Turkey and other Greek islands, including Patmos, Lipsi, Leros, Kalymnos. Kos, Rhodes and several other islands, as well as the Greek mainland. There is an international airport on the island with service to the UK during the summer holiday months.
The island of Samos is one of the easternmost of the Greek Islands along the coast of Turkey, just 1.5 kilometers from the Turkish mainland. It has a wonderful combination of long, sandy beaches, rugged mountains and fertile ground with lush forest and many crops. The 478 square kilometers have a number of modern resorts as well as many historic sites and archeological ruins to explore. The capital, Samos, is built like an amphitheater at the end of a deep bay, next to the harbor of Vathi. Pythagorio is another major town on the southeastern coast of the island that is popular with visitors.
Samos Airport (SMI) is located 14 kilometers southwest of Samos Town and 3 kilometers west of Pythagorio. The major ferry routes come to the island at Pythagoria and Karlovassi in addition to Samos Town.
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