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Cyprus Hotel Licensing Crisis: What It Means For The Upcoming Tourist Season

by News Editor

March 11, 2025

As Cyprus gears up for its vibrant tourist season, a significant concern looms over the horizon. Out of 741 tourist accommodations readying their reopening, merely 100 have secured the necessary licenses. This figure represents just 13.5% of the total, a shortfall that is widely observed across all regions.

District Breakdown Of Licensed Hotels

According to recent data from the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the disparity is consistent across districts: Famagusta licenses just 13 out of 253 hotels, Paphos 20 out of 184, Limassol 26 out of 114, Larnaca 22 out of 112, and Nicosia 19 out of 78.

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Efforts To Tackle The Licensing Gap

There is an ongoing legislative proposal to alleviate the pressing issue of unlicensed hotels. Disy MP Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis, chair of the Tourism Committee, is at the forefront of this initiative, which aims to ease regulations with temporary operating permits. Such measures are crucial to maintain compliance, ensure safety standards, and bolster Cyprus’s standing in global tourism.

Moreover, embracing these challenges head-on not only supports local businesses but also aligns with broader economic goals. For example, recent economic forecasts like those by JPMorgan’s revision of the Euro area’s growth forecast further highlight the interconnectedness of regional stability and business prosperity.

As the season fast approaches, the industry’s ability to adapt and respond effectively will define the tourist experiences this year, securing Cyprus’s reputation as a must-visit destination.

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Evel Elects New President As Maria Theocharous Takes Over For 2026–2029 Term

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 12, 2026

Maria Theocharous has been elected president of the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Evel), taking over from Yiannis Tsouloftas for a three-year term covering 2026–2029. Theocharous previously served as the chamber’s vice-president for tourism.

The leadership transition marks a new chapter for one of Cyprus’ main regional business organisations, with the new board set to represent the district’s key economic sectors.

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New Leadership Emphasises Cooperation

The chamber’s annual meeting brought together government, business and local authority representatives, including Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister Michael Damianos, Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) president Stavros Stavrou, Limassol district local government organisation president Yiannis Tsouloftas and Limassol mayor Yiannis Armeftis.

Speakers highlighted the importance of closer cooperation between public authorities and businesses in supporting Limassol’s economic development.

Representatives of the Cyprus Shipping Chamber (CSC) also congratulated Theocharous on her election and thanked the outgoing president for his cooperation. The CSC described Evel as a longstanding partner, noting the chamber’s contribution to Limassol’s business development over more than six decades.

Tsouloftas Reviews Six Years As President

In his final address, Tsouloftas reviewed the chamber’s work between 2020 and 2026, highlighting its advocacy for major infrastructure projects and efforts to address development challenges across the district.

He also outlined initiatives to remove obstacles facing local businesses, accelerate development plans and improve the conditions for economic activity.

Tsouloftas will remain involved as immediate past president, providing continuity during the transition.

New Board Covers Key Business Sectors

The new board includes representatives responsible for the chamber’s main portfolios:

Ilikos Charalambous, vice-president for commerce
Vasos Demetriades, vice-president for industry
Christos Nicolaou, vice-president for services
Nicolas Agiomamitis, vice-president for tourism
Ilias Theodorou, vice-president for finance
Demosthenes Mavrellis, vice-president for innovation and technology
Ilias Neocleous, honorary secretary

Other board members are Minos Agathocleous, Marios Antoniou, George Demetriou, Anastasios Kounoudis, Marios Constantinou, Xanthos Nemptsas, Antonis Pappas, Charalambos Pattichis, Chrysis Petousis, Farah Shammas, Andreas Tsouloftas and Kyriacos Hadjiathanasiou.

Costas Ioannides, Agathi Katsi, Anna Petraki, Filippos Filis and Tonis Hadjiloucas have been appointed members by distinction. The chamber also highlighted the growing participation of women in business leadership and decision-making.

Chamber Recognises Longstanding Contributions

The annual meeting also recognised businesses and individuals for their contributions, including members who have maintained continuous membership for 50 years.

Tributes were paid to three former contributors to the chamber, Tonis Antoniou, Dimi Mavropoulos and Andreas Laou, in recognition of their service.

Under Theocharous’ leadership, Evel begins its 2026–2029 term with a board covering commerce, industry, services, tourism, finance and innovation. Its priorities include continuing to represent Limassol businesses and advocating for the investment and cooperation needed to support the district’s economic growth.