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Celebrating Six Years of Gesy: A Closer Look at Cyprus’ National Health System

Since its inception in June 2019, Cyprus’ national health system, Gesy, has reached an impressive milestone: enrolling over a million beneficiaries and recording more than 42 million doctor visits.

Remarkably, the journey began with legislation passed in 2001, culminating in a robust health system that has seen over 3.6 million visits to radiological diagnostic centres, 17 million to laboratories, 43 million to pharmacies, and 1.3 million dental visits. A statement from the Health Insurance Organization (HIO) highlights its dedication to accessible, quality healthcare.

The system’s financial sustainability until at least 2032 is backed by recent actuarial studies. Efforts to enhance the service have included legislative improvements, digital advancements, and public information campaigns. Last year alone, random checks and audits led to over €235,000 in fines for non-compliant providers. Financial trends reflect a supportive environment for such developments.

With performance indicators for medical professionals, new treatment protocols, and an enhanced referral process, the commitment to transparency and continuous improvement is evident. Beneficiaries can now evaluate their care experience through newly introduced questionnaires and navigate their options via a dedicated website. These steps aim to support patients, particularly those with chronic conditions.

As Cyprus continues to capitalize on surging health and financial fronts, Gesy’s values of social solidarity and equitable access remain at its core. With a strategic plan set to enhance healthcare offerings, bolster financial sustainability, and foster digital innovation, Gesy is not just surviving—it’s thriving.

Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.

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