Tourist Arrivals to Cyprus Plunge 30 % in March, Travel Agents Warn of More Declines
Government Launches Overseas Messaging Blitz to Counter Post-Drone-Strike Cancellations
Akrotiri Fallout: Cancellations Surge, Government Offers Wage Subsidy for Hotels
Latest News
Cyprus Parliament Fast-Tracks Bill to Tighten ‘Golden Visa’ Rules
Opposition AKEL has tabled urgent amendments that would suspend Cyprus’ ‘golden visa’ fast-track residence route unless new regulations are issued within three months. The move follows EU pressure to tighten oversight after the 2020 passport scandal and could temporarily halt new corporate and private investor relocations. Businesses relying on the scheme should accelerate filings and prepare contingency plans.
Lufthansa Group’s Discover Airlines Launches Year-Round Cyprus Services
Discover Airlines, part of Lufthansa Group, inaugurated flights to Larnaca on 14 April, adding year-round links from Frankfurt and Munich and connecting Cyprus to the group’s global hub network. The move boosts business-travel options, intensifies competition on Germany–Cyprus routes and supports the island’s post-crisis connectivity drive.
Easter Hotel Occupancy Falls to 25-45 % as Iran Conflict Weighs on Bookings
Average Easter occupancy sank to 25–45 %, with summer bookings still “flat,” the Cyprus Hotels Association said on 14 April. Cancellations linked to the Iran conflict continue to hit revenues, prompting a government subsidy scheme and raising concerns that some properties may delay opening or shorten the season. Mobility and travel managers face both risks (reduced capacity later) and opportunities (deep off-season discounts).
Green-Line Checkpoints Log 190 Million Crossings Since 2003
Checkpoint data released on 14 April show more than 190 million crossings between north and south Cyprus since 2003, with a recent uptick in south-bound movements driven by economic factors in the north. The figures underline the checkpoints’ importance for labour, commerce and tourism, and highlight operational considerations such as longer wait times for cross-border commuters.