3 development catalysts for the destination of Messinia

By Eleni Botas

Messinia is evolving into one of the strongest investment magnets in the country and one of the most developing destinations in the Mediterranean.

The new infrastructure projects that are planned to take place, focusing on Kalamata, are expected to give a greater tourist impetus to the region, bringing new investments, contributing substantially to the upgrading of our country’s tourism product.

The announcement of the tender for the project “Design, Construction, Financing, Operation and Maintenance of the Road Axis of Southwestern Peloponnese, Department Kalamata – Rizomylos – Pylos – Methoni, with PPP” has entered the final straight. submission of bids to be scheduled unexpectedly in December and at the beginning of the year to have the nomination of the contractor and the start of the project.

The 5 groups that will be invited to submit their bids are Avax, Aktor Concessions, Intrakat, GEK TERNA and the consortium Acciona Concesiones – Mytilineos. The project concerns the construction, financing, operation and maintenance of the National Road Kalamata – Rizomylos – Pylos – Methoni, with a total length of about 50 km, which includes the following sections: The section Kalamata – Rizomylos 16.4 km long, the section Rizomylos – Pylos 25.7 km long and the section Pylos – Methoni 7.9 km long.

The project will improve the safety of road infrastructure in the southwestern Peloponnese, while at the same time it will contribute to the tourist upgrade of the area by cooperating with the existing and planned transport infrastructure and ensuring fast and safe transportation.

In addition, through the implementation of this project, a reduction in transport costs and an increase in the competitiveness of the primary and secondary sectors of the region’s economy will be achieved.

At the same time, the utilization of Kalamata airport is in progress, with the appointment of the Technical Consultant who is expected to complete the relevant procedures and run the tender.

According to 2019 data, 341,000 passengers were handled from Kalamata airport, of which 317,000 came from abroad.
“The development of the country is directly linked to the better utilization of public property” recently noted the CEO of the Superfund Grigoris Dimitriadis, emphasizing that “Kalamata airport is one of the most important airports in the country with an impressive increase in traffic in recent years “Its upgrade will further contribute to the tourism and general development of the prefecture and the wider Peloponnese region, something that, the local self-government and productive bodies have already pointed out,” he added.

According to its executives, the new airport of Kalamata can benefit from the enhanced tourist flows found in the wider area, due to the Costa Navarino hotel complex.

Indicative of the demand and the change brought to the prefecture by Costa Navarino managed by TEMES, the Konstantakopoulos group with the participation of Olayan Group, is that the approximately 42 luxury villas within the area that were put up for purchase during a pandemic, have almost all sold.

These are luxury homes 235-295 sq.m. with 3-4 bedrooms in surrounding area of ​​700 sq.m. up to 1,300 sq.m. and a starting price of 1.2 million euros.

In fact, two of them, at a price of 1.3 million people each, were acquired by the Milwaukee Bucks’ star Giannis Antitokoumbo.

The residential part of Costa Navarino continued to attract the interest of foreign buyers, mainly from Central Europe and at the height of the pandemic that was accompanied by the imposition of a lockdown.

The other product created by TEMES has also increased significantly and concerns the branded apartments The Residences at The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino. For the specific properties of 150 sq.m., the prices start from 550,000 euros, while these properties have an investment character, as within the 18-year development program, a guaranteed income equal to 4% of the value of each apartment is provided.