Cyprus recorded its best tourism year in history in 2025, with the government now focused on maintaining momentum whilst addressing chronic infrastructure problems, Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis said.
Speaking at a meeting with local stakeholders in the Paphos district, Koumis presented the Deputy Ministry’s strategy for the new year, analysing tourism sector challenges, plans for 2026 and Paphos’s contribution to Cyprus tourism.
He stressed that excellent tourism experiences for all visitors remain the prerequisite for continued success. The Deputy Ministry presented innovations and plans for the new year, whilst proposals were submitted to address chronic problems.
“What matters is that individual destinations continue to function smoothly and offer quality services. For this reason, we pursue continuous communication not only with local authorities but with everyone involved in the tourism ecosystem,” Koumis said.
He placed special emphasis on Paphos city and district, noting that tourist arrivals exceeded 30% as expected, contributing decisively to the overall success of Cyprus tourism.
Looking ahead to 2026, the Deputy Minister said the new year brings fresh challenges that extend beyond tourism, with climate change requiring collective analysis and response.
Asked about gaps or omissions by local authorities, he said none had been identified, repeating that the quality of services provided remains the priority. He added that the Deputy Ministry evaluates ten specific points on each visit, examining the overall picture of each destination.
Koumis also addressed the Paphos marina, saying the timetable of the new process is being kept. Contract signatures are expected in the first months of 2027 with no time loss, he said, whilst strong investment interest has been recorded.
Paphos mayor calls for quality shift
Paphos Mayor Phedon Phedonos characterised 2025 as a “very good year”, noting that data sends optimistic messages for future planning. He said this course must continue with proper programming to maintain and strengthen success.
The mayor stressed that from 2026 onwards, emphasis must shift from quantities to quality, noting that “quality is the secret of further success.” Beyond necessary visitor numbers, the goal is to attract tourists with higher per capita spending, he said.
Phedonos requested close monitoring and support from the Deputy Ministry for three key projects in the Paphos district: the marina, the road connecting the tourist area with the airport, and the completion of the Paphos airport expansion. These projects must start in 2026, he said.
He made special reference to scenes at Paphos airport in 2025, calling them “images of shame”, with tourists waiting in multi-hour queues in high temperatures. Such phenomena must not be repeated, he stressed.
Phedonos concluded that 2026 must be a year of project implementation, not another period of planning as had happened in the last 10 to 20 years.