What Shapes Passenger Demand in Coastal Shipping in Island Economies? A Conceptual and Policy Framework with Reference to Greece

Island countries and economies rely on coastal shipping for mobility and economic cohesion. This is important in summer tourist destinations, where demand grows significantly during the summer months and remains low for several months of the year. The few studies that examine coastal shipping have mostly been conducted independently, not addressing the issue as a whole. This paper aims to develop a conceptual and policy framework for the various elements of passenger demand in coastal shipping, using Greece as the case study. In addition to existing studies and statistical data, the paper uses policy documents to develop a conceptual and policy framework. The purpose is not to estimate demand through econometric models, but to organize the main factors that shape passenger demand and support future policy and research.