Breaking news

Safe Bulkers Inc. Strengthens Future Investments With 5th Annual Scholarship Awards

Commitment to Education and Social Responsibility

Safe Bulkers Inc., a New York Stock Exchange-listed maritime company, reaffirmed its long-standing dedication to education and social responsibility during its 5th annual scholarship award ceremony. Headed by CEO Polys Hajioannou and hosted at the company’s Limassol offices, the event underscored the company’s robust investment in nurturing talent within the maritime and technical sectors.

A Proven Legacy of Academic Excellence

Now in its fifth year, the Safe Bulkers Scholarship Programme has established itself as a renowned institution in Cyprus. The initiative is designed to support young scholars pursuing higher education in strategically important fields such as Naval Architecture, Ship Engineering, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Informatics, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence, and Data Science. The programme also covers Maritime Law, Shipping, Trade, and Finance, thereby addressing a wide spectrum of industry needs.

Rigorous Selection and Impactful Rewards

The recent award ceremony witnessed the attendance of influential figures including Zoe Polydorou, First Education Officer and District Inspector of Limassol, Yiannis Armeftis, Mayor of Limassol, and Yiannis Tsouloftas, Head of the Limassol EOA. For the 2025–2026 academic year, a stringent evaluation process led to the selection of ten outstanding students who met all academic and social criteria. Each awardee received a €10,000 scholarship, enabling them to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies at prestigious universities both in Greece and internationally.

Bolstering ESG Principles Through Education

Reflecting Safe Bulkers’ commitment to Environmental and Social Governance (ESG), the initiative emphasizes sustainable support for youth development and academic excellence. As the company stated, “It is our great honour to support students in their journey of knowledge and development.” The awards ceremony not only celebrated academic achievements but also set the stage for continued success and creative prospects among future industry leaders.

Paphos Tourism Charts Course For Recovery And Strategic Growth

Optimism Amid Regional Instability

Paphos tourism officials remain confident that the losses incurred due to regional instability will soon be offset, as rebookings are already underway. Michalis Mitas, president of the Paphos Regional Tourism Board (Etap), assured that despite recent disruptions, Cyprus continues to stand as a secure and fully operational destination for travelers.

Stabilization And Forward Planning

Mitas said tourism conditions are expected to stabilize in the coming weeks. Planning for 2026 focuses on improving service quality and strengthening long-term sustainability within the sector. Key priorities include diversifying air connectivity, securing stable year-round flight schedules and further developing specialized tourism segments.

Diverse Tourism Offerings

The tourism board plans to expand several thematic tourism categories. These include sports tourism, wedding tourism, wellness tourism, agrotourism and travel programs targeting visitors aged over 55. Expanding these segments forms part of a broader strategy to diversify the tourism offering and attract different visitor groups.

Enhancing Visitor Experience And Infrastructure

Several initiatives are planned to improve the visitor experience. These include the development of eco-routes, walking trails and interactive tourism activities across the region. Mitas said attracting international sporting events and other large-scale gatherings remains an important priority. The strategy also includes digital upgrades to tourism services and improved accessibility for visitors with disabilities during the 2026–2028 period.

Addressing Structural Challenges

Tourism development in the region continues to face several structural challenges. Seasonality remains a factor affecting visitor numbers throughout the year. Additional issues include limited public transport connectivity between urban centres and rural areas, labour shortages in the hospitality sector, constrained water resources and rising operating costs.

Service quality also varies among tourism providers. Limited adoption of modern technology and aging hotel and urban infrastructure, particularly in inland areas such as Polis Chrysochous, remain areas of concern for the sector.

Commitment To Sustainable Rural Development

Rural tourism is expected to play an important role in the region’s development strategy. Areas such as Polis Chrysochous are being promoted as destinations that combine tourism development with the preservation of natural landscapes and cultural heritage.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
eCredo
Uol
Aretilaw firm

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter