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Cyprus Prepares For Record-Breaking Tourist Arrivals in 2024

According to Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis, Cyprus is on track to surpass its record-breaking tourist arrivals from 2019. Addressing the Parliamentary Finance Committee on Friday during the budget review for the Deputy Ministry, Koumis highlighted the island’s impressive tourism performance and optimistic projections for 2024.

Tourist arrivals for January to October 2024 have already outpaced previous years, with a 4.6% increase compared to 2023 and a 0.8% rise compared to 2019. 3.7 million visitors were recorded during this period, marking the best ten-month performance in Cyprus’ history. Additionally, tourism revenue from January to August grew by 4.6% year-on-year, demonstrating the sector’s robust recovery.

The growth has been remarkable over a two-year span, with arrivals increasing by 26.7% and revenues climbing 31.2% compared to 2022. Tourism’s contribution to GDP has also grown significantly, rising from 10.9% in 2023 to an estimated 13.5% in 2024.

While per capita expenditure remained stable at €769, and daily spending slightly increased from €89 in 2023 to €90 in 2024, the average length of stay decreased to 8.56 days compared to 9.59 days in 2022. European markets have driven much of this growth, with notable increases in visitors from the UK, Germany, France, Finland, Poland, Switzerland, and Eastern European countries.

Koumis emphasized the government’s dedication to upgrading the country’s tourism sector, citing sustainability as a core focus for future development. “The Deputy Ministry’s 2025 budget reflects our commitment to enhancing Cyprus as a destination while transitioning to a model that prioritizes sustainability,” he stated, adding that the increased budget allocation underscores the strategic importance of tourism to the island’s economy.

TikTok Returns To US App Stores 

TikTok is once again available for download in the Apple and Google app stores in the US, following a delay in the enforcement of its ban by former President Donald Trump. The ban’s postponement until April 5 gives the administration additional time to evaluate the situation.

Key Developments

The decision to restore TikTok access came after Google and Apple received reassurances from the Trump administration that they would not face legal consequences for reinstating the Chinese-owned app. According to Bloomberg, US Attorney General Pam Bondi sent a letter outlining these guarantees.

In an executive order signed on January 20, Trump instructed the attorney general not to take enforcement action for 75 days, providing time for his administration to determine how to proceed.

Uncertain Future For TikTok In The US

While TikTok is back on the US app stores, its long-term survival remains uncertain. If no deal is reached by early April to address national security concerns, the app may face another shutdown. ByteDance, the parent company, has insisted that TikTok is not for sale.

Legislation And Pressure On ByteDance

The Protecting Americans from Foreign Enemy-Controlled Apps Act, which passed with bipartisan support in Congress, mandates a nationwide ban on TikTok unless ByteDance sells its US operations. This law was signed by President Joe Biden in April of last year.

In late January, the app was briefly removed from US stores following the ban’s activation, impacting over 170 million American users. However, TikTok was restored soon after, following Trump’s intervention in his first hours as president. During that time, he signed an executive order allowing 75 days for a deal that would safeguard national security. Trump also suggested that the US could take a 50% stake in TikTok, a move he believed would keep the app “in good hands.”

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