The Council of Ministers approved today, Thursday, incentive plans for the further development of special forms of tourism, the enrichment of tourist services and the strengthening of tourist flows in less popular tourist areas, as stated by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Costas Koumis, after the meeting.
Specifically, as Mr. Koumis reported, the Council of Ministers approved a Grants Plan for Upgrading Projects of Hotels, Tourist Accommodations and Recreation Centers in Kato Pyrgos, Tillyria, as well as an Incentive Plan for attracting conference tourism events for the period 2026-2029.
An Incentive Plan for attracting foreign sports teams to prepare for the 2026-2029 period and an Incentive Plan for the implementation of experiential workshops were also approved.
At the same time, the Council of Ministers approved a Christmas Villages Sponsorship Plan for the coming year.
As Mr. Koumis noted, the "Grant Scheme for Upgrading Projects of Hotels, Tourist Accommodations and Recreation Centers in Kato Pyrgos, Tillyria" constitutes a targeted intervention for an area that, despite its natural and cultural advantages, continues to face development challenges.
Beneficiaries of the plan are hotels, tourist accommodations and recreation centers operating in Kato Pyrgos, Tillyria, with aid covering 85% of eligible costs and a total budget of €1,5 million for the period 2026-2028.
He emphasized that it is a Plan, "which constitutes practical proof of the commitment of the Government of Nikos Christodoulides to support the remote areas of our country."
In relation to the "Incentive Plan for attracting conference tourism events", Mr. Koumis said that this concerns a special form of high added value tourism, such as conference tourism.
"The essential feature of this specific plan is its four-year validity, which allows organizers to plan their events in Cyprus in a timely manner. The annual budget of the plan amounts to €150.000," said the Deputy Minister of Tourism.
Additionally, as Mr. Koumis said, the Council of Ministers approved the "Incentive Plan for attracting foreign sports teams for training in Cyprus", which aims to further strengthen sports and training tourism in the country.
He explained that the plan is also characterized by a four-year validity and is addressed to sports teams, clubs, federations and academies abroad, as well as to travel organizers and licensed tourist agencies.
According to Mr. Koumis, the annual budget of the project amounts to €400.000.
Continuing, he referred to the "Incentive Plan for the implementation of experiential workshops" - traditional crafts, processing of agricultural and livestock products and oenology.
As he stated, this Plan "aims to connect the tourism sector with tradition, local production and the promotion of authentic experiences."
The Deputy Minister of Tourism stated that the annual budget of the project amounts to €100.000. “The ultimate goal of the project is to highlight the productive and gastronomic identity of the Cypriot countryside,” he said.
The Council of Ministers also approved the "Christmas Villages Sponsorship Plan" for the year 2027, a plan that aims to further strengthen winter tourism by organizing festive events during the Christmas holiday period.
"An institution that has now been established, bringing multiplier benefits to local communities. The annual budget of this specific project amounts to €640.000," noted Mr. Koumis.
"I would like to emphasize that these plans are not isolated actions," the Deputy Minister noted.
"They are part of a coherent Government strategy, which aims to alleviate seasonality, strengthen special forms of tourism, enrich tourist services and spread tourist flows to the countryside, the mountains, and the remote areas of our country," he concluded.
Source: KYPE
