Breaking news

Cyprus Tourism Associations Warn Of Market Distortion Under New Recreational Areas Law

Fragmented Licensing Proposals Raise Concerns

The Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises and the Cyprus Hoteliers Association raised concerns over a proposed law on the establishment and operation of recreational areas, currently under review by the House Tourism Committee. In a joint statement, the associations said the proposal introduces a separate licensing framework that could create overlapping responsibilities across authorities.

Potential Impact On Market Integrity And Visitor Experience

According to the associations, the proposal would require an additional operating license for restaurants within hotel units, despite existing regulatory oversight. They said this could lead to duplication in licensing procedures and affect operating conditions across the sector.

Concerns Over Uniform Regulations And Noise Pollution

The associations also noted that the proposal applies uniform rules across different types of tourism establishments without accounting for operational differences. They said provisions related to operating hours and noise management may affect both business activity and visitor experience if not adjusted.

A Call For An Integrated And Coherent Approach

In their statement, the organisations said regulatory changes should be aligned within a single framework covering licensing, operations, and compliance. They argued that a coordinated approach would better support sector stability and service standards.

Strategic Legislative Delay

Stek and Pasyxe called on parliament to delay a decision on the proposal until a broader government initiative is completed. They said a revised bill should reflect sector requirements and broader policy considerations before being adopted.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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