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High Occupancy Rates for Cyprus Restaurants in October; Winter Decline Anticipated

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Restaurants, cafes, and bars in Cyprus experienced a strong October, with occupancy levels reaching 80 to 90 per cent, according to Neophytos Thrasyvoulou, president of the Federation of Leisure Centre Owners (Osika). He described October as a “very successful month” for the food service industry.

However, with winter approaching, Thrasyvoulou acknowledged potential challenges, especially with the impact of regional instability. “Visitor numbers have seen a slight drop in recent days,” he noted, though he hopes that occupancy levels will remain steady until mid-November. By early November, Thrasyvoulou expects visitor occupancy to hover around 50 to 60 per cent, after which the responsibility will lie with businesses to keep operating, with support from the Labour Ministry’s programme to extend the tourism season.

Reflecting on the earlier summer months of June and July, Thrasyvoulou highlighted that visitor numbers were initially lower than expected, largely due to Middle East tensions. The trend eventually improved, leading to a stronger second half of the season.

Despite rising costs, Thrasyvoulou urged business owners to maintain affordable pricing, aiming to keep dining accessible for both locals and tourists amid economic pressures.

Cyprus Banks Maintain Strong Asset Quality As NPL Ratio Stays Below EU Average

by News Editor

Cyprus banks continued to report relatively strong asset quality in May, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio holding steady at 1.6%, according to the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC).

The figure remained unchanged from April and was below the EU-wide NPL ratio of 1.98% recorded in March, based on consolidated banking data from the European Central Bank (ECB). While the reporting dates differ, Cyprus’ ratio was 0.38 percentage points lower than the EU average.

NPL Coverage Edges Higher

Banks also slightly strengthened their protection against potential losses. The NPL coverage ratio increased to 63.0% at the end of May, from 62.9% a month earlier, meaning that provisions covered nearly two-thirds of non-performing loans.

Meanwhile, the stock of restructured loans remained relatively contained. Total restructured loans stood at €800 million, of which €300 million were still classified as non-performing.

Cyprus Banks Show Strong Profitability

Cyprus also compared favourably with the wider EU banking sector on profitability during the first quarter of 2026.

Domestic banks recorded a return on equity of 3.6973%, compared with 2.44% across EU credit institutions in March. The measure indicates how effectively banks generate profits from shareholders’ capital.

Across the EU, banks continued to maintain substantial capital buffers. The Common Equity Tier 1 ratio stood at 16.27% in March, providing an important cushion against potential losses.

EU Banking Sector Remains Resilient

The ECB’s March data covered 335 banking groups and 2,284 stand-alone credit institutions, alongside non-EU-controlled subsidiaries and branches operating within the bloc. Together, these institutions represented almost the entire EU banking sector by balance sheet.

Aggregate assets of EU-headquartered credit institutions rose 3.63% year on year, reaching €34.33 trillion in March 2026, up from €33.13 trillion a year earlier.

Overall, Cyprus’ latest figures point to a banking sector with relatively contained asset-quality pressures, supported by a stable 1.6% NPL ratio, 63% coverage and profitability above the EU average. The comparison should be viewed with some caution, however, as the CBC and ECB figures cover different reporting periods and datasets.

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