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

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.

Smart Glasses Companies Shift Focus Toward Commercial Viability

The smart glasses market has long attracted investment from major technology companies seeking to develop wearable devices capable of reducing reliance on smartphones. Despite years of development, the sector has struggled to achieve profitability or large-scale consumer adoption.

Chronic Financial Losses And Hardware Hurdles

Companies across the industry have invested billions of dollars into smart glasses development, while commercial returns have remained limited. Speaking at Google I/O, Chi Xu described the financial challenges facing the sector, stating that “Everybody’s losing money.” Bulky hardware, limited battery performance and underdeveloped software ecosystems have historically slowed adoption and restricted smart glasses to niche use cases.

Emerging Momentum And Technological Refinement

Recent product launches suggest the market may be entering a more mature phase. Meta has partnered with Ray-Ban on smart glasses models that achieved broader commercial visibility than earlier generations of wearable devices. Although Meta’s Reality Labs division continues to report significant losses, improved hardware design and more refined software interfaces have strengthened expectations that smart glasses could move beyond experimental products into wider consumer adoption.

Innovative Designs Paving The Way

One of the latest devices entering the market is Aura, developed by Xreal. The model integrates OLED displays directly into the frame to support high-resolution video playback. Processing power is handled through a portable external computing unit, allowing the glasses to maintain a lighter form factor. The platform also supports applications including navigation tools, hand-tracking functions, digital painting and gaming features designed to integrate digital interfaces into everyday activities.

Expanding Horizons For Both Consumers And Professionals

Xreal is positioning the product for both entertainment and professional use cases. According to Chi Xu, potential applications range from holographic sports viewing experiences to portable virtual workspaces for remote productivity. The current version remains limited to developers, while a broader commercial release is expected later in 2026. The company is also considering an IPO before the end of the year.

Path To Profitability

Alongside product development, Xreal is focused on improving profitability by increasing gross margins and reducing marketing and sales costs. Chi Xu said the company expects it could reach break-even as early as next year. The sector continues to face financial and technical challenges, but recent product launches and partnerships indicate growing efforts to establish smart glasses as a viable category within consumer electronics.

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