Passenger ports: services provision and their benefits

Abstract

The paper discusses an under-researched segment of the port and maritime business: passenger ports and port services. A survey conducted in the 20 major European passenger ports leads to the identification and classification of the different services provided in passenger ports. Then the paper examines the public and private benefits produced by the provision of those services that are provided in all passenger ports. It does so via (a) literature review and brainstorming sessions with experts that result in a list of potential benefits produced and (b) application of a modified Analytical Hierarchical Approach (AHP) that acts as a useful methodological tool towards an understanding of the exact distribution of the private and public benefits. A dataset of replies to a questionnaire, which is developed along the lines of the AHP, provides empirical data as regards the produced public and private benefits in the case study of the Piraeus passenger port.

Acknowledgments

The research has been financially supported by the ‘Training of Researchers-Operational Programme “Competitiveness” ‘(PENED-2003) research project, co-financed by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology, Greek Ministry of Development and the Third European Community Support Program. The constructive comments of the referees motivated improvements to the paper and are gratefully acknowledged. Any remaining shortcomings are the responsibility of the authors alone.