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Capturing Cyprus Through The Lens: An Executive Review Of Visual Storytelling

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 12, 2025

The photo contest “Memories Made in Cyprus” brought the island’s unique heritage to life during the annual tourism conference hosted by STEK. Held on 27 November 2025, the event showcased a collection of evocative images that powerfully narrated the cultural and natural allure of Cyprus, with distinguished guests including the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Mr. Kostas Koumis, and leading figures from the tourism industry.

Awarded Photographic Excellence

The top honor was awarded to Maria Maragkou for her piece, “Ekklisaki tis Panagias tis Thalassinis”, which captures the serene and heartfelt spirit of Paphos. The second prize was jointly claimed by Stelios Michailidis for his poetic portrayal in “I Siopis tou Iliovasilematos” and Rafae̱llos Markitanis for his technically refined landscape in “Fragma Prodromou”. The third prize went to Andriani Georgiou for “Chryso Fthinopocho”, an image that elegantly encapsulates the splendor of the Cypriot countryside during autumn.

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Recognized Outstanding Works

In addition to the main prizes, seven other images received accolades for their artistic innovation and narrative depth. These featured subjects ranged from medieval stone bridges and rugged mountain trails to handcrafted art and the wintry vistas of Troodos. Notable recognitions include:

Ilias Labrou – “To Mesaiotiko Petríno Gefyri tis Miliás”
Savas Maroullétis – “Istioforo Plio, Plaisio̱menos apo Parathyro”
Andriani Georgiou – “Chionismeno Troodos”
Pavlos Pavlou – “To Gefyri tou Jelefontou”
Kostas Efthivoulou – “Laneia”
Maria Maragkou – “Hand Made”
Marios Andreou – “Fading Light, Fading Thoughts”

Rigorous Judging Process

The selection process was overseen by a highly qualified panel including Savvas Perdios, Theodosia Antoniou, Dr. Alexis Saveriadis, Andreas Konstantinou, Socrates Sokráto̱s, Silvio Rousmiko, and Chrysaimili Psilogéni. Their evaluation criteria emphasized a sophisticated blend of aesthetic appeal, technical excellence, and narrative power.

Cyprus: A Tapestry of Captured Memories

STEK expressed its gratitude to all participants, underscoring that the contest celebrates the authentic, heartfelt nature of Cyprus through vivid imagery. The event transformed Cyprus into a visual journey where nature, history, and everyday moments intersect to create enduring memories. This fusion of art and cultural storytelling stands as a testament to the island’s profound appeal in the global tourism landscape.

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Nearly 80% Of Cyprus’ Foreign Investment Came From Outside EU In 2025

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 11, 2026

Cyprus had the highest share of foreign direct investment (FDI) originating outside the European Union among 14 EU member states reporting data for 2025. According to Eurostat, non-EU economies accounted for 79.4% of the island’s inward FDI, highlighting its distinct position among the reporting countries.

The figures contrast with most other EU economies, where investment from within the bloc remains the main source of foreign capital.

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Cyprus Leads In Non-EU Investment Share

Eurostat measures inward FDI positions by the ultimate investing economy, identifying the economy where the investment ultimately originates rather than only the country through which it is channelled. This distinction is important when investments involve subsidiaries or intermediary holding companies.

In nine of the 14 reporting countries, most foreign investment came from within the EU. The Czech Republic recorded the highest intra-EU share, at 75.1%, followed by Romania at 73.3% and Estonia at 64.8%.

Cyprus was among five countries where non-EU economies accounted for more than half of inward FDI. Spain, Sweden, Greece and Denmark also recorded shares above 50%, ranging from 51% to 55.1%.

US Is The Largest Source Of FDI Across Reporting Countries

Across the 14 countries collectively, the United States was the largest ultimate source of foreign direct investment, accounting for 15.4% of the total.

Germany ranked second at 11.5%, followed by France at 9.4%, the United Kingdom at 9.3% and Switzerland at 5.8%.

These figures reflect the combined investment positions of the reporting countries and do not identify Cyprus’s leading individual investment sources. However, the country-level data underline the island’s strong reliance on capital originating outside the European Union.