Cyprus Tourism Bookings Recover After 20 Days Of Disruption

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 30, 2026

Renewed Momentum In A Challenging Environment

Tourism bookings in Cyprus are showing signs of recovery after a period of geopolitical disruption, according to Kostas Koumis. Speaking at the General Assembly of PASYDIXE, he noted that the current tourism season remains under pressure, but recent trends indicate a gradual improvement in demand.

Swift Government Action Preserves Cyprus’ Image

Koumis said bookings began to recover after about 20 days of disruption linked to regional tensions. He added that government actions focused on maintaining safety and supporting Cyprus’ positioning as a stable destination. He emphasized that Cyprus remains geographically distant from conflict zones, while communication efforts and safety measures aim to sustain international confidence.

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Strategic Outreach At International Platforms

The minister highlighted Cyprus’s participation in international tourism events, including ITB Berlin. Engagement with partners focused on ensuring continuity in travel flows and maintaining scheduled operations. Discussions reflected initial caution among partners, followed by decisions to proceed with planned flight programs.

Sectoral Support And Future Outlook

Government measures include targeted support for the hospitality and aviation sectors, with a focus on employment and connectivity. Promotional activities have also been intensified in coordination with industry stakeholders. Nicolas Aristou outlined priorities including improving service quality, strengthening competitiveness, investing in human capital and promoting sustainability.

Industry Leaders Call For Operational Consistency

Marios Ellinas said geopolitical developments have affected hotel operations and called for maintaining consistent service levels. He noted the importance of operational stability, cost management and workforce support, as the sector begins to see a more balanced trend between cancellations and new bookings.

Comprehensive Strategic Action For A Secure Future

Filokypros Rousounidis said current conditions require coordinated action across the sector. Priorities include strengthening airline connectivity, addressing seasonality and developing higher-value tourism offerings. He added that hotel management remains central to maintaining service standards and visitor experience.

Recognition And Optimism For The Road Ahead

Koumis presented an honorary award to Marios Ellinas in recognition of his contribution to the sector. Participants highlighted the need to manage current challenges while maintaining tourism activity in the coming months.

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Greek And Cypriot Banks Propel Economic Growth With Aggressive Credit Expansion

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

May 25, 2026

Robust Q1 Growth Sets The Stage

Banks in Greece and Cyprus are accelerating lending activity, with total credit expansion projected to approach or exceed €15 billion in 2026. The increase is reinforcing the banking sector’s role in supporting profitability and broader economic growth across the region.

Targeted Lending Initiatives And Sector Performance

According to reports by Greek business outlet Newmoney, banks are increasingly relying on credit expansion to sustain earnings growth as interest rate dynamics shift across Europe. First-quarter results already point to strong momentum in lending activity.

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Eurobank has set a target of €3.8 billion in credit expansion this year. National Bank of Greece and Piraeus Bank are each targeting €3 billion, while Alpha Bank aims for €3.5 billion. Smaller lenders are also expanding aggressively, with CrediaBank targeting €1.2 billion and Optima Bank aiming for €1.1 billion.

Notable Banking Results Across Markets

First-quarter results underline the scale of the lending rebound. Banks that have reported Q1 figures recorded cumulative credit expansion of €4.7 billion. Piraeus Bank increased its loan portfolio to €38.6 billion, while net credit expansion reached €1.3 billion across major business segments. At National Bank of Greece, new loan disbursements rose 50%, contributing to net credit expansion of €500 million.

Meanwhile, Eurobank reported a 9.8% increase in net credit expansion to €1.1 billion. In Cyprus, Bank of Cyprus recorded Q1 lending of €829 million, up 9% compared with the end of 2025, while Optima Bank posted a 27% year-on-year increase in loan disbursements to €1 billion.

Sectoral Dynamics And Asset Quality Improvements

A recent report from UBS showed that business lending remained the strongest growth driver in March, increasing 10.9% year-on-year. Consumer lending rose 7.7%, while housing loans increased 1.1%. Asset quality also continued to improve. Non-performing loans declined to 3.3% in Q4 2025, down 30 basis points from the previous quarter, reflecting the sector’s ongoing balance-sheet clean-up.

Despite the strong lending momentum, profitability remained broadly stable in the first quarter. Combined net profits at major banks, including National Bank of Greece, Piraeus Bank, Eurobank, Optima Bank and Bank of Cyprus, totaled €1.12 billion, representing a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.27%.

Profitability And Revenue Breakdown

Profit trends varied across institutions during the quarter. Net profit at National Bank of Greece declined 9.9%, while Piraeus Bank reported a 1.42% decrease. By contrast, Eurobank increased profitability by 5.3%. In Cyprus, Bank of Cyprus reported a 3% increase in profit, while Optima Bank posted a 22% rise. Across the sector, net interest income increased 1.4% to €1.93 billion, although performance differed among individual banks. Fee income recorded stronger growth, rising 20% year-on-year to €590 million.

Long-Term Trends And Strategic Impact

Over the past year, listed banks in Greece and Cyprus generated combined post-tax profits of €5.458 billion, up 15.4% from the previous year. During the same period, net interest income declined 4.2% to €9.307 billion, reflecting pressure from changing rate conditions.

Balance-sheet quality continued to strengthen as non-performing loans fell to €5.7 billion, down 5.2% compared with December 2024. Since March 2016, banks in the two markets have reduced non-performing exposures by an estimated €101.5 billion, equivalent to a cumulative decline of 94.7%.

The sustained improvement in asset quality, combined with expanding loan portfolios, is reinforcing the sector’s role in financing business activity and economic recovery across Greece and Cyprus.

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