The government has asked Limassol authorities to submit detailed upgrade proposals as part of a push to strengthen the city’s position as one of the Mediterranean’s most competitive tourism destinations, Deputy Tourism Minister Costas Koumis said.
Koumis chaired a meeting on Monday with the four mayors of greater Limassol, the Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAP), and other industry figures to discuss a 10-point framework for improving individual destinations across Cyprus.
“We want open and thorough discussion to upgrade individual destinations and as Deputy Ministry and Government we announce, frequently, plans to upgrade tourist destinations and this is what we intend to do immediately after analysing all the data,” he said.
The meeting highlighted the need to upgrade public spaces including Tsirio Stadium and the seafront, issues the government is aware of, Koumis said. Officials also discussed the Coastal Road, which upon completion is expected to give new momentum to Limassol’s tourism ecosystem.
Limassol accounts for 12.4% of Cyprus’s tourist visitation and is recognised as a particularly competitive destination across the Mediterranean, receiving extremely good feedback, the minister said.
Most city hotels operate at very high levels and appeal to higher-income travellers, though the city also attracts a high proportion of visitors staying with friends and relatives rather than hotels, which pushes down average per capita spending.
“This is something we take into account because it affects average per capita spending, which is lower in this case,” Koumis said, adding that tourism activities have increased in recent years with more expected in coming years.
ETAP Limassol President Andreas Tsouloftas, who also heads the Limassol Chamber of Commerce, called on the Deputy Ministry to support the company’s vision for the city’s tourism product, which he said extends beyond the 2026 public funding agreement signed on Monday.
A memorandum with positions and proposals has been submitted to the ministry, Tsouloftas said, adding that ETAP needs financial support to increase staffing levels.