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Daleela Ferry Resumes Cyprus-Greece Route in 2025: Navigating New Horizons

Setting Sail Again: The Daleela Ferry Connects Cyprus and Greece

The Daleela ferry is back on the waves, resuming its pivotal route between Cyprus and Greece this Saturday from Limassol to Piraeus. Embarking on the first of 22 planned crossings this summer, this maritime service is now entering its fourth season, an enduring link in Mediterranean travel.

A Key Initiative for Connectivity

This service reactivation comes on the heels of an announcement by Deputy Minister of Shipping, Marina Hadjimanolis, alongside Scandro Holding Ltd, continuing a government partnership until 2027. This vital route is more than just transport; it’s a lifeline for those who find flying challenging due to various reasons such as age or medical issues. According to Minister Hadjimanolis, “It’s classified as a service of general economic interest, with €5.5 million annual support.”

Strong Demand Sets Sail

The vessel will carry 187 passengers, 66 vehicles, 36 motorcycles, and 8 pets. Demand is robust, with over 6,500 tickets already sold and full booking for August, while opportunities for travel still exist in June and July. The season finale is slated for September 2 from Piraeus.

A Steady Rise in Popularity

Operated under a €15.6 million contract awarded in 2022 to Scandro Holding Ltd—a joint venture between Limassol-based Acheon Akti Navigation and Nicosia’s Top Kinisis Travel—the ferry’s popularity is clear. Over the last three years, 22,582 passengers, 7,641 vehicles, and 772 pets have used this service. As Scandro director Charalambos Manoli notes, “The ferry shows how much people embrace this service. Our aim is to enhance both the journey and the service each year.”

Challenges and Hopes for the Future

The ferry presents a valuable alternative for travelers, ensuring ease for families, the elderly, and pet owners who may not wish to fly. Some logistical issues remain, particularly related to land transfers within ports, yet the overall reception is promising. Hadjimanolis hopes the maritime industry will continue the route post-subsidy, envisioning it as a stepping stone for additional links in the region.

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€50 Million Luxury Resort Planned For Ayia Napa

Ayia Napa could strengthen its position in the premium tourism market with a proposed €50 million mixed-use resort combining a hotel, serviced apartments, luxury bungalows and a beach club.

Aesara Investments Ltd has submitted an information form to the Department of Environment for a development to operate under the name Atlantica Wavemaster Hospitality. The project is planned for the Limnara area of Ayia Napa, along the coast south of Kryou Nerou Avenue, between the town centre and Cape Greco.

Hotel, Apartments And Luxury Bungalows

The proposed resort will include a 324-room hotel with capacity for 648 guests, alongside a condo-hotel building containing 20 one- and two-bedroom apartments. Facilities are planned to include restaurants, bars, cafés, a spa with an indoor pool, a gym, shops, a multipurpose hall, a children’s club and a cinema.

A further 33 three-level luxury bungalows, each designed for two guests and featuring a private swimming pool, are planned for the southern part of the site. A beach club with a restaurant and an outdoor pool complex covering more than 6,300 square metres will also form part of the development.

The project includes 321 parking spaces, including 12 for people with disabilities, and 14,196 square metres of landscaped green space featuring local plant species.

Seasonal Hotel Operations And Year-Round Residences

The hotel is expected to operate from March to November, with peak occupancy during the summer season. The condo-hotel apartments, meanwhile, will be available for sale or long-term rental and intended for year-round residence. Owners and tenants will also have access to the resort’s facilities, including its pools, restaurants and fitness areas.

Construction is expected to take 24 months once the required permits are secured. At the busiest stage, the project could employ around 100 workers per day.

Environmental Restrictions Near Cape Greco

The site’s proximity to protected Natura 2000 areas has prompted strict environmental requirements. The Cape Greco Special Protection Area borders the site to the south, while a Special Area of Conservation lies approximately 50 metres away.

Conditions imposed by the Department of Environment include a maximum building height of five floors, or 18.5 metres, and restrictions on permanent structures near the coastline. The project must also use spider-web type glazing and low-intensity lighting to minimise disturbance to local birdlife.

According to the project’s consultants, the design has been prepared to comply with the environmental conditions and the final report on cumulative impacts for the Cape Greco Special Protection Area. The hotel and apartment building are positioned in the central and northern parts of the plot, away from the shoreline.

Within the designated no-build zone, located 40 metres from the boundary of the beach protection zone, only swimming pools are planned. The consultants state that these are not expected to affect protected species in the area.

Uol
Aretilaw firm
eCredo
The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

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