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Paphos Tourism Looks Ahead to Year-Round Success, Says Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis

Despite facing various challenges, Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis is optimistic about the results achieved in 2024, particularly in the tourism sector. Speaking at the presentation of the final results for the Paphos destination promotion campaign on Friday evening, Koumis expressed his satisfaction with the overwhelmingly positive financial outcomes for those working in the industry. He highlighted that Paphos, in particular, is making significant strides towards becoming a year-round tourist destination.

Koumis explained that the decision to focus on strengthening existing markets was a strategic one, emphasizing that the Ministry’s analysis showed investing in established markets yields faster and more effective results compared to exploring new ones. However, he noted that efforts to tap into new markets have not been overlooked.

Regarding the current state of the hotel industry, Koumis confirmed that, according to the Ministry’s data, 104 hotel units are currently open across Cyprus.

Bitcoin Surges 23% In A Week As Investor Optimism Returns

Bitcoin was on track for a weekly gain of around 23% on Friday as a series of positive macroeconomic and policy developments boosted investor sentiment.

The cryptocurrency was trading about 6% higher at roughly $77,000, up from around $62,800 at the start of the week. Crypto-related stocks also rallied, with Coinbase and Circle gaining more than 9%, while Strategy rose 7%.

Macro Factors Fuel Rally

Bitcoin’s latest surge began Wednesday after Treasury yields fell sharply following a major intervention by the U.S. Treasury in the bond market. Lower yields eased pressure on risk assets and helped trigger a broader move into cryptocurrencies.

The rally was further amplified by a major short squeeze. Around $2.7 billion in crypto short positions were liquidated, according to CoinGlass.

Max Stuedlein, head of Partnerships at Sygnum APAC, said the move reflected an alignment of macroeconomic and policy catalysts, including the Treasury’s decision to increase buybacks of longer-dated government debt.

Clarity Act Boosts Sentiment

Investor confidence improved further on Thursday as the White House and crypto industry leaders made a final push to advance the Clarity Act in the coming weeks.

The legislation is widely viewed as a potential catalyst for the crypto market, although its chances of passing remain relatively limited.

Despite the rally, bitcoin remains well below its 2026 high of $94,820 reached in January and its all-time high of $126,198, set last October.

Analysts See More Volatility Ahead

Lucy Gazmararian, founder and managing partner at Token Bay Capital, said the crypto market may be approaching the end of its bear cycle.

She expects bitcoin could experience one more decline of around 20% before the market turns, pointing to historical cycles and the recent liquidation of heavily leveraged short positions.

Gazmararian also described bitcoin as a long-term hedge against monetary debasement, while warning that its short-term price remains highly volatile and driven by market cycles.

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