Cyprus Tourism Minister Says Airline Schedules Remain Stable

Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis said Cyprus continues to attract interest from international tour operators and airlines despite recent developments in the Middle East. Speaking at the ITB Berlin tourism fair, Koumis commented on the outlook for the tourism sector amid geopolitical uncertainty.

Resilient Airline Programs And Unwavering Interest

During meetings with industry partners, Koumis said airlines and tour operators have not indicated plans to reduce flights to Cyprus. According to the deputy minister, scheduled airline programs currently remain unchanged.

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Addressing A New Geopolitical Landscape

Koumis noted that the situation differs from previous geopolitical developments affecting the region. He said it is still too early to assess the long-term effects of the current crisis.

Prioritizing Air Connectivity

Maintaining air connectivity remains a key priority for the tourism sector. European airlines are expected to resume flights by Sunday, while most carriers have already reinstated their routes. Some airlines from the Middle East have not yet resumed operations.

Fostering Global Strategic Dialogues

At the ITB Berlin event, Koumis also held meetings with representatives of the German tourism market and executives from several airlines. Discussions also included Luxembourg Tourism Minister Lex Delles, Greek Tourism Minister Anna Karamanli and World Travel & Tourism Council President Gloria Guevara. Talks focused on recent geopolitical developments and tourism cooperation with international partners.

A Call For Balanced Optimism

Koumis said that some flight cancellations have been recorded across parts of the Eastern and Western Mediterranean. However, he described these changes as short-term developments and said Cyprus continues to operate as a travel destination for international visitors.

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Cyprus’ Poverty And Social Exclusion Risk Stands At 17.1%

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 20, 2026

Cyprus recorded a poverty or social exclusion risk rate of 17.1% in 2025, below the European Union average of 20.9%, according to new Eurostat figures. Across the bloc, however, more than 92 million people continued to face the risk, highlighting persistent social and economic inequalities.

More Than 92 Million People At Risk Across The EU

A total of 92.7 million people across the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, equivalent to just over one in five residents.

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Cyprus is treated as a single statistical region because of its size, unlike many member states divided into multiple regions for comparison. Its national figure therefore provides an overall picture but does not capture differences between districts or communities.

Regional Gaps Remain Stark Across Europe

The risk varied considerably across the EU, with the highest rates concentrated largely in southern, eastern and outermost regions. In 24 of the 243 regions with available data, at least 31.5% of the population faced poverty or social exclusion.

These regions were located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Romania, as well as Brussels in Belgium and Bremen in north-western Germany.

French Guiana recorded the highest rate, at 54.8%, followed by Calabria in southern Italy at 45.3% and Sicily at 44%. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, recorded 43.7%, while Réunion, another French outermost region, stood at 42.3%.

Central Europe Records The Lowest Rates

At the other end of the scale, 24 regions reported poverty or social exclusion risk rates below 13% in 2025. These included five eastern EU capital regions: Bratislava in Slovakia, Warsaw in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia.

Other regions with low rates were concentrated in northern Italy, the Czech Republic, northern Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Austria, illustrating the uneven distribution of economic security across Europe.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

Cyprus’ rate of 17.1% places it below the EU average, although it remains higher than the levels recorded in the bloc’s lowest-risk regions.

The figures suggest that Cyprus performs relatively well compared with the wider EU, but poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges across the bloc, affecting more than 92 million people.

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