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January Data Sets The Stage For A Robust Tourism Outlook In 2026

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

February 19, 2026

January Data Insights And The Promising Start

Latest figures from the Statistics Service, expected to be released today, point to a strong start to 2026 for Cyprus’ tourism sector. Early January data indicate positive momentum that could continue throughout the year, provided external disruptions remain limited.

Clean Monday Weekend: The First Litmus Test

The upcoming Clean Monday three-day weekend, scheduled for February 21–23, is viewed as the first major test of this year’s tourism performance. Industry representatives report strong booking activity expected to lift monthly averages, even as February occupancy currently stands at around 30%. Christos Angelides, Managing Director Of PASYXE, highlighted that hotels in key areas such as Limassol, buoyed by carnival festivities, and Paphos are predicted to operate at full capacity during this period.

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Investment In Hospitality And Local Attractions

Beyond the main tourist centers, surrounding villages near Limassol and Paphos have seen increased investment in accommodation and dining infrastructure. These developments are expanding travel options and encouraging short excursions, particularly with favorable weather forecasts. Many hotels are also preparing curated Clean Monday menus aimed at enhancing the on-site guest experience and increasing visitor spending within properties.

A Year-Round Tourism Strategy And Future Trends

Industry leaders continue to stress the importance of maintaining a flexible, year-round tourism strategy. Expanding air connectivity remains a key factor, with growing flight availability from markets such as Armenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Latvia and Poland, alongside steady demand from the United Kingdom and Israel. While growth from Germany remains modest, it is viewed as a positive indicator. Stakeholders emphasize that sustaining winter tourism requires coordinated efforts across the broader hospitality and tourism ecosystem, including events, conferences and cultural activities.

Looking Forward To A Strong Tourism Season

March is expected to deliver strong results and may outperform the same period last year. Several hotel operators plan to open earlier to capture early-season travel packages offered by tour operators, potentially extending the tourism season from early spring through late November.

In addition, the timing of Easter celebrations across Catholic, Jewish and Orthodox calendars is anticipated to support increased visitor flows from late March into early April. Industry observers see this as part of a broader trend toward a longer and more stable tourism season with sustained demand throughout the year.

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Banks Required To Refund Unauthorized Transactions Immediately, Confirms EU Prosecutor

Introduction

Advocate General Athanasios Rantos of the Court of Justice of the European Union stated that banks must refund customers without delay for unauthorized transactions, even when the client may have acted with gross negligence. The opinion clarifies how European legislation should be applied in cases involving payment fraud.

Case Overview

The case concerns a Polish bank customer who became the victim of a phishing attack. A fraudster posed as a buyer on an online auction platform and sent the customer a link that closely resembled the bank’s official website. After entering her login credentials, the customer unintentionally gave the attacker access to her account. The fraudster subsequently carried out unauthorized transactions.

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The bank refused to reimburse the funds, arguing that the client had demonstrated gross negligence by entering her banking details on the fraudulent website. The dispute was later brought before the Polish courts.

Legal Implications

The Polish national court asked the Court of Justice of the European Union to clarify whether European law requires banks to refund unauthorized payments immediately, even when the customer may have acted negligently.

Advocate General Rantos stated that EU legislation requires banks to restore the funds without delay unless the institution has reasonable grounds to suspect fraud and has formally reported the matter to the competent authorities. The opinion also explains that an immediate refund does not prevent the bank from later seeking compensation if it can prove that the customer failed to comply with their obligations under payment services regulations.

Consumer Protection And Regulatory Outlook

European payment legislation places strong emphasis on protecting consumers from financial fraud. The regulatory framework aims to ensure that users of payment services receive prompt reimbursement when unauthorized transactions occur. Banks may still investigate individual cases and pursue legal action if they believe the customer breached their responsibilities under payment service rules.

Conclusion

The Court of Justice of the European Union will now consider the Advocate General’s opinion before issuing its final ruling. Such decisions are often influential in shaping the interpretation of EU law. A ruling in line with the opinion could have significant implications for banks across the European Union and for how financial institutions handle reimbursement claims in cases of payment fraud.