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Economist Calls For Hotel Incentives To Support Cyprus Tourism

Safeguarding Cyprus’ Reputation

Tassos Yiasemides said Cyprus must maintain its position as a stable destination for tourism and investment as regional tensions continue. He noted that the country’s economy is strongly influenced by external factors, making it sensitive to geopolitical developments.

Optimizing Hotel Operations

Yiasemides said policies that support hotel operations could help sustain tourism activity during periods of uncertainty. Incentives for hotels to remain open, even with reduced staffing levels, could help maintain visitor confidence. Christos Zannetou also stressed the importance of keeping hotels operating during winter months. Continuous activity supports Cyprus’s tourism image and helps maintain employment in the sector.

Enhancing Economic Diplomacy And Inflation Controls

Yiasemides said Cyprus should strengthen economic diplomacy and tourism promotion to offset possible declines in visitor numbers from conflict-affected regions. Diversifying tourist markets could also reduce reliance on specific source countries.

Rising prices and higher energy costs remain additional challenges for the economy. The Cyprus Consumers Association has called for measures, including fuel subsidies, to support households and limit price pressures.

Addressing Energy Challenges And Long-Term Stability

Yiasemides also highlighted structural challenges in the energy sector. He said expanding renewable energy production and improving energy storage could strengthen supply stability. Other measures discussed include targeted support for vulnerable households and adjustments to certain consumption taxes. These steps could help mitigate the economic effects of higher energy and food prices. The proposals outline possible policy responses to current economic pressures affecting Cyprus.

Cyprus’ Poverty And Social Exclusion Risk Stands At 17.1%

Cyprus recorded a poverty or social exclusion risk rate of 17.1% in 2025, below the European Union average of 20.9%, according to new Eurostat figures. Across the bloc, however, more than 92 million people continued to face the risk, highlighting persistent social and economic inequalities.

More Than 92 Million People At Risk Across The EU

A total of 92.7 million people across the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, equivalent to just over one in five residents.

Cyprus is treated as a single statistical region because of its size, unlike many member states divided into multiple regions for comparison. Its national figure therefore provides an overall picture but does not capture differences between districts or communities.

Regional Gaps Remain Stark Across Europe

The risk varied considerably across the EU, with the highest rates concentrated largely in southern, eastern and outermost regions. In 24 of the 243 regions with available data, at least 31.5% of the population faced poverty or social exclusion.

These regions were located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Romania, as well as Brussels in Belgium and Bremen in north-western Germany.

French Guiana recorded the highest rate, at 54.8%, followed by Calabria in southern Italy at 45.3% and Sicily at 44%. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, recorded 43.7%, while Réunion, another French outermost region, stood at 42.3%.

Central Europe Records The Lowest Rates

At the other end of the scale, 24 regions reported poverty or social exclusion risk rates below 13% in 2025. These included five eastern EU capital regions: Bratislava in Slovakia, Warsaw in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia.

Other regions with low rates were concentrated in northern Italy, the Czech Republic, northern Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Austria, illustrating the uneven distribution of economic security across Europe.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

Cyprus’ rate of 17.1% places it below the EU average, although it remains higher than the levels recorded in the bloc’s lowest-risk regions.

The figures suggest that Cyprus performs relatively well compared with the wider EU, but poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges across the bloc, affecting more than 92 million people.

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