Breaking news

New Record In Passenger Traffic

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Cyprus has achieved a remarkable milestone in its aviation sector, with a record-breaking 6.6 million passengers travelling to and from the island between January and July 2024. This unprecedented surge in passenger traffic underscores the island’s growing appeal as a tourist destination and a critical hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Hermes Airports, the operator of Larnaka and Paphos airports, reported that passenger numbers have significantly rebounded, even surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The June 2023 figures alone showed a 105% increase compared to the same period in 2022. This surge reflects not only a recovery from the pandemic’s impact but also the effectiveness of Cyprus’s strategic efforts to enhance its connectivity and tourism appeal. With over 55 airlines operating 156 routes to 38 countries, Cyprus has firmly positioned itself as a key player in regional travel.

July witnessed a further rise, with 1.5 million passengers recorded, marginally above the July 2022 figures. This growth trend is expected to continue in August, traditionally the peak travel month, which could see passenger traffic exceed 1.5 million. The anticipated figures for August indicate a strong finish for the summer season, reinforcing Cyprus’s position as a favoured destination.

Despite the year’s challenging start, marked by external factors such as geopolitical tensions and global economic uncertainties, the resilience of Cyprus’s tourism and aviation sectors is commendable. Maria Kouroupi, Hermes Airports’ Director of Aviation Development, highlighted the concerted efforts to stabilise and grow the sector, aiming to make 2024 a landmark year for Cyprus tourism.

For businesses and investors, these numbers signal robust growth potential in Cyprus’s tourism and related sectors. The increasing passenger traffic not only boosts the local economy but also opens up new opportunities for investment in infrastructure, services, and hospitality industries.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

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.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
Aretilaw firm
eCredo
Uol

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter