Deputy Shipping Minister, Marina Hadjimanolis, has highlighted the significant role of shipping in the Cypriot economy in an interview with a local newspaper noting specifically that the sector is one of the strongest assets of the economy, contributing over 7% to the country's GDP.
Furthermore, in an interview with another local newspaper, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, said that the country must invest more in the quality characteristics of tourism.
Speaking to Phileleftheros, Hadjimanolis said that the Deputy Ministry is implementing a targeted strategic plan that includes upgrading services and promoting the advantages of the Cypriot ship registry and the country's shipping complex in general.
"The results are impressive. The Cypriot ship registry has grown steadily over the last two years, recording an increase of 21% since September 2023. At the same time, the contribution of ship management to GDP now exceeds 5.5%," she noted.
She also described Cyprus' re-election to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council as particularly important, as it ranked 7th in the 2025 elections, significantly improving its position compared to 2023, when it ranked 12th.
Regarding the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, the Deputy Minister said that the Deputy Ministry's central priority is to promote the Nicosia Declaration, which aims to upgrade and retrain seafarers, modernizing maritime education and certification, and increasing the participation of women in the shipping industry, with a view to its adoption by all EU Member States at the Informal Council of Ministers responsible for maritime affairs, to be hosted in Nicosia in April 2026. At the same time, the Cyprus Presidency will work on shaping the new European Industrial Maritime Strategy, which will be submitted by the European Commission.
According to the Deputy Minister, 2025 was a year of gradual recovery and stabilization of the cruise sector for Cyprus, with several companies including the country in their itineraries.
Specifically, she reported a 30% increase in cruise ship arrivals compared to 2024, with the port of Limassol, which remains the main pillar of cruising, welcoming 139 confirmed calls, of which 26 were home porting itineraries, with Limassol serving as the port of departure and arrival.
On his part, the Deputy Minister of Tourism told Politis that the Deputy Ministry has placed particular emphasis on mountainous Cyprus and inland areas of the country, highlighting the value of authenticity, and has just recently reached an agreement to create a digital guide and to record the history of Cypriot tourism, “elements that are certainly linked to the quality parameters of tourism, but also to the effort to disseminate knowledge about the destination and its evolutionary course."
“The ultimate goal of all these actions is to promote authentic Cyprus and convey the flavours and ‘aromas’ of our country to every visitor. Our vision can be none other than the transformation of our country into a year-round sustainable destination, distinguished by the provision of high-quality services with a strong local flavour. Investing in authenticity and sustainability is, I would say, the only way forward," he added.
Asked whether adequate controls are in place in the tourism sector, the Deputy Minister said that they are, and in fact with stricter criteria than in other countries.
"We believe that all these businesses should not be left to market forces alone. We believe that checks should be carried out, but within a specific framework and in a targeted manner. At the same time, I can reveal that we are monitoring the market's reaction to a series of data using specific electronic tools," he added.
Asked how local gastronomy and local flavours can be better promoted, Koumis said that this can be done with the right promotion and distribution of tourism in the inland areas of the country, so that tourism benefits all areas and these benefits act as a reciprocal economic activity for local communities.
(Source: CNA)
