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Cyprus Sees a Surge In Tourism Revenue: February’s Significant Gains And What It Means

In February 2025, Cyprus reported a notable €79.7 million in tourism revenue, reflecting a remarkable 22.4% increase from the same period last year when earnings stood at €65.1 million, according to the latest release by the statistical service.

Year-to-Date Performance

Taking a broader view, the combined revenue for the first two months of 2025 reached €148.9 million, soaring by 35% compared to €110.3 million during the same months in 2024.

Spending Patterns of Tourists

The per capita expenditure for February rose by 14.3%, amounting to €595.71 compared to €521.01 in February 2024. Among the tourists, British visitors, accounting for 24.8% of the arrivals, spent an average of €73.42 per day. Polish tourists made up 15.1% of the total arrivals and spent €71.07 daily. Intriguingly, visitors from Israel had the highest daily spending at €203.06.

Future Prospects

Looking ahead, Harris Papacharalambous, President of Cyprus Travel and Tourism Agents Association, anticipates that a total of 4.25 million tourists will visit Cyprus by the end of the year. The vision for 2026 is to enhance the island’s tourism offerings with innovative changes, turning it into a regional hub for tourism activities, thanks to Cyprus’ strategic geographical position.

For further exploration of Cyprus’s rapid growth and economic potential, read about Cyprus’s fastest-growing tech companies and their global impact.

TikTok US Venture Secures American Ownership Amid Global Turbulence

Historic Shift in Ownership and Governance

TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has forged a groundbreaking deal with a consortium of non-Chinese investors, establishing a predominantly American-owned joint venture to operate the popular social media platform in the United States. This milestone resolves a six-year political conundrum that began in 2020, when former President Donald Trump raised national security concerns and sought to ban the app during his administration.

Leadership and Strategic Oversight

At the helm of the U.S. entity, TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC, is Adam Presser, the former head of operations and trust and safety at TikTok. Presser’s appointment as CEO underscores the venture’s commitment to operational integrity, while TikTok CEO Shou Chew will continue to influence strategy as a board director. The joint venture is designed to safeguard national interests through enhanced data security, robust algorithm oversight, precise content moderation, and rigorous software assurances tailored for U.S. users.

Investor Composition and Governance Structure

The new entity is backed by prominent investors including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi-based MGX, each holding a 15% stake. Supplementary investments have been made by Michael Dell’s family investment firm, among others. Governed by a seven-member board that includes notable figures such as Timothy Dattels, senior adviser to TPG Global; Mark Dooley of Susquehanna International Group; co-CEO Egon Durban of Silver Lake; DXC Technology CEO Raul Fernandez; Oracle’s Kenneth Glueck; and David Scott of MGX, the venture exemplifies a blend of seasoned management and stringent oversight.

Political Reactions and Future Outlook

The announcement has drawn varied responses from political figures, including former President Trump, who lauded the agreement in a social media post on Truth Social. Trump asserted that the app is now owned by a coalition of “Great American Patriots and Investors,” thus framing the deal as a pivot towards a robust American digital presence. As TikTok USDS Joint Venture embarks on its new chapter, the venture stands as a prime example of strategic, international business maneuvering in the digital age.

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