The Deputy Ministry of Tourism is attempting to give a new boost to sports and training tourism, by implementing a new incentive scheme to attract foreign sports teams to train in Cyprus, with the budget for 2026 amounting to €400,000.
According to the information material prepared and published by the Deputy Ministry, the 'Incentive Scheme for attracting foreign sports teams for training in Cyprus 2026–2029' was drawn up with the aim of further strengthening sports/training tourism, a special form of tourism of first priority based on the National Tourism Strategy 2035.
The Scheme is part of the series of incentive and grant schemes operated by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism for the targeted organisation, development and promotion of special forms of tourism.
As it characteristically emphasises, these forms contribute to attracting visitors, especially during the winter months, making Cyprus a year-round and competitive destination, with multiplying benefits for the economy and society.
What changes with the new Scheme?
Based on its provisions, the revised Scheme differs substantially from its previous version that operated until 2025, since it now takes the form of providing a financial incentive and not a subsidy on specific eligible actual expenses, thus enabling agents, sports associations and the teams themselves to weigh in advance the benefit of choosing Cyprus for their preparation and training.In fact, the amount of the incentive is now calculated on the basis of the tourist benefit zones, to which individual parameters are added such as the season, the region, the strategic priority sports and the hosting of athletes with disabilities.
The minimum financial incentive amounts range from €75 to €4,000.
Additional incentives
Furthermore, based on the provisions of the Scheme, an additional financial incentive will be provided to teams that carry out their training during the months of December, January and February, reside and train in mountainous, rural and remote areas, train in strategic priority sports (football, cycling, track and field, swimming, triathlon, shooting, water sports) or are composed of athletes with disabilities.
How long will it last?
Another important innovation is the four-year validity of the Scheme (2026-2029), which allows interested parties to plan and claim future sports preparations in Cyprus in a timely manner.
It is noted that the Scheme will operate year-round for Nicosia and priority areas (mountainous, rural, marginal and remote areas) and from November to April for coastal areas.
The beneficiaries
Beneficiaries of the Scheme are sports teams, clubs, federations, referee associations, sports academies and athletes of foreign federations who carry out their competitive preparation in Cyprus, regardless of country of origin or category.
Beneficiaries are also travel organisers and foreign companies that transport sports teams, as well as Cypriot licensed tourism and travel agencies and companies that transport teams and athletes from abroad.
It is noted that in cases where the applicant is the athlete, then a certificate from his Federation must be attached to the application.
The exceptions
Sports teams (including national teams), clubs or associations that come to Cyprus as guests of Cypriot Sports Federations or teams or groups, or in the context of their participation in sports events, tournaments or fulfilling their other competitive obligations, are excluded from the Scheme.
Terms and conditions
The financial incentive will be provided if the following conditions are met :
- Athletes should come down for training during the months of November-April except in cases where they choose Nicosia, the mountainous, rural, remote and remote areas for accommodation, where the Scheme operates year-round.
- Beneficiaries must provide the Deputy Ministry of Tourism with high-definition audiovisual and photographic material, if requested, with the right to use it by the Deputy Ministry for the purposes of promoting Cyprus as a destination for sports tourism.
- The groups will arrive in Cyprus from legal entry points and will reside in areas within the control of the Republic of Cyprus.
It is emphasised that failure to comply with the above will lead to the loss of economic incentive.
Budget and framework
The annual budget of the Scheme for 2026 amounts to €400,000.
The Scheme is based on Regulation (EU) No. 2023/2831 of the European Commission on de minimis aid and will be published in the Official Gazette of the Republic, valid from the date of its publication until December 2029.
Application submission and information
Applications are submitted electronically, in pdf format, by completing the relevant forms of the Scheme. For more information, interested parties can contact the Deputy Ministry of Tourism:
Niki Karagiorgis, Assistant Secretarial Officer
- Email: nikikaragiorgi@visitcyprus.com
- Tel.: (+357) 22691275
Detailed information and forms for the Scheme can be found here.
