Ayia Napa Marina transformed into a floating conference hall on 25 October 2025 as the four-day International Sea Tourism Festival (ISTF) dropped anchor for its inaugural Cyprus edition. Backed by the Deputy Ministry of Shipping and held under the auspices of the Presidency of the Republic, the ISTF brings cruise-line executives, yacht-charter brokers, port operators and sustainability start-ups together under the banner “Go Blue – Go Green – Go Smart”.
More than 4,000 delegates from 35 countries are expected to attend keynote sessions on alternative-fuel bunkering, shore-power infrastructure and digital port-call optimisation. Exhibitors include technology firms demoing AI-enabled berth-allocation software and Cypriot marinas pitching expansion projects aimed at high-net-worth nautical tourists. The Greek Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs, Stefanos Gkikas, told the opening ceremony that the festival “cements the strategic maritime partnership between Greece and Cyprus and positions the island as an Eastern-Mediterranean cruise gateway.”
For corporate mobility managers, the event offers practical value: a dedicated Business-Travel Pavilion run by Hermes Airports is showcasing seamless visa processing for super-yacht crews and a new fast-track lane at Larnaca Airport for cruise-ship staff making short turnarounds. Shipping companies operating out of Limassol can book on-site appointments with immigration officials to renew seafarer permits—a pilot service that may become permanent if uptake is strong.
Tourism economists say hosting the festival could inject €6 million into the Famagusta region, extending the traditional summer season and creating opportunities for conference organisers and hospitality suppliers. The Deputy Ministry of Shipping is using the platform to soft-launch “CYSh1P”, a digital one-stop portal for maritime licensing and crew certification, set to become compulsory in 2026.
Travel-risk analysts flag minimal disruption: Ayia Napa’s road network has added shuttle lanes, and police report no road-closure bottlenecks so far. However, attendees should plan airport transfers in advance, as regional flights are near capacity due to the long Orthodox holiday weekend.
More than 4,000 delegates from 35 countries are expected to attend keynote sessions on alternative-fuel bunkering, shore-power infrastructure and digital port-call optimisation. Exhibitors include technology firms demoing AI-enabled berth-allocation software and Cypriot marinas pitching expansion projects aimed at high-net-worth nautical tourists. The Greek Deputy Minister of Maritime Affairs, Stefanos Gkikas, told the opening ceremony that the festival “cements the strategic maritime partnership between Greece and Cyprus and positions the island as an Eastern-Mediterranean cruise gateway.”
For corporate mobility managers, the event offers practical value: a dedicated Business-Travel Pavilion run by Hermes Airports is showcasing seamless visa processing for super-yacht crews and a new fast-track lane at Larnaca Airport for cruise-ship staff making short turnarounds. Shipping companies operating out of Limassol can book on-site appointments with immigration officials to renew seafarer permits—a pilot service that may become permanent if uptake is strong.
Tourism economists say hosting the festival could inject €6 million into the Famagusta region, extending the traditional summer season and creating opportunities for conference organisers and hospitality suppliers. The Deputy Ministry of Shipping is using the platform to soft-launch “CYSh1P”, a digital one-stop portal for maritime licensing and crew certification, set to become compulsory in 2026.
Travel-risk analysts flag minimal disruption: Ayia Napa’s road network has added shuttle lanes, and police report no road-closure bottlenecks so far. However, attendees should plan airport transfers in advance, as regional flights are near capacity due to the long Orthodox holiday weekend.
