https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/weekend-news-roundup
Here are a few of the stories that made news in Cyprus over the weekend....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/thousands-flee-fires-in-greece-turkey
Thousands of people fled wildfires burning out of control in Greece and Turkey on Friday, including a major blaze just north of the Greek capital of Athens that claimed one life, as a protracted heat wave left forests tinder-dry and flames threatened populated areas and electricity installations...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/israel-puts-cyprus-in-the-doghouse
A partial cabinet meeting in Israel landed Cyprus in the doghouse, after ministers in the neighboring country recommended the island be off limits to Israeli travelers due to pandemic concerns...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-cooks-up-alms-for-jabs-for-young-adults
The Cypriot government is expected soon to announce incentives that would encourage young people to get vaccinated, while subsidized hotel stays for those who got the jab begin later this week...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/jewel-sets-sail-fully-vaccinated-from-limassol
The Jewel of the Seas sets sail from Limassol on Saturday marking the beginning of Royal Caribbean’s return to the Mediterranean, a bold move mid-pandemic after Cypriot authorities jumped on board to offer a helping hand to an industry desperately looking for a welcoming port...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-rolls-out-‘jab-discount-for-hotel-stays
Lodging businesses in the Republic of Cyprus have until Friday to apply for a state subsidy that would partially fund hotel stays for vacationers who got the vaccine or the state has a record of their recovery from COVID...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/reporter-says-low-wanted-to-buy-a-cypriot-bank
A British investigative journalist told an audience in Nicosia that Cypriot-naturalized financier Jho Low had tried to use contacts with Kuwaitis to buy a bank on the island where the Malaysian fugitive could launder stolen money...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-to-try-hand-at-luxury-camping
Cyprus’s tourism minister says there is great interest in Cyprus becoming a “glamping” destination, but laws need to be amended as luxury camping, a crossover between campgrounds and hotels, is not currently regulated in the Republic...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-tries-to-find-footing-in-tourism-uncertainty
Tourism deputy minister Savvas Perdios remained optimistic after a trip to Moscow, saying he hoped Russia would allow the resumption of chartered flights to destinations including Cyprus in a matter of weeks, but he also reiterated his position that all the efforts in Nicosia still depended largely on decisions in other capitals...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-et-al-kept-off-uk-s-green-list
A last minute Cypriot campaign in the United Kingdom to secure quarantine-free travel to the island failed to yield results on Thursday, after Britain’s choice to go the extra cautious route affected many countries, with the island now focusing on Russia, its second largest market, to keep summer hopes alive...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/jewel-readies-trial-cruise-from-cyprus
The Jewel of the Seas is setting anchor in deep waters on Thursday just off Limassol, as the cruise ship prepares for an ultimate summer getaway from Cyprus for the first time ever...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cypriot-minister-vies-for-uk-s-green-status
Cypriot deputy tourism minister Savvas Perdios has been trying to sway British officials towards including his country on the UK’s green list, following a recent improvement of the epidemiological situation on the island that could still be argued either way in London...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/video-pulled-after-critics-said-it-was-sexist
Tourism officials in the Republic of Cyprus have pulled a video from their playlist on social media, after critics said the clip as part of a campaign to keep the country clean was 'sexist' and failed to get the message across...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/odyssey-leaves-cyprus-after-cancelation
Odyssey of the Seas sailed away from Cyprus on Tuesday after Royal Caribbean pulled the plug on operations out of Haifa, but Cypriot officials remain upbeat over cruise ships seeking a friendly port in Limassol...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cabinet-under-pressure-to-modify-safe-pass
There are reports of second thoughts over the scope of Cyprus’ safety pass with Kathimerini reporting that grievances within the hospitality industry have reached the Presidential Palace, putting enormous pressure on the health minister to water down rules pertaining to restaurants...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/minister-defends-laxer-policy-for-tourists
Cypriot Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios says CyprusFlightPass is a sufficient tool for monitoring foreign travelers during their visit on the island, dismissing criticism that locals are having a harder time securing a CoronaPass to enjoy fewer restrictions...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-fails-to-land-uk-s-green-list
Tour operators are urging the British government to expand the number of countries for quarantine-free travel, after many popular destinations including Cyprus were left off the UK’s green list...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/vaccinated-tourists-to-roam-hassle-free-in-cyprus
Foreign tourists who have been vaccinated against COIVD-19 will be able to roam free in the Republic of Cyprus, according to new measures expected to go into effect Monday, with the only requirement being a simple download or printout of their CyprusFlightPass...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/eu-makes-move-on-vaccinated-tourists
The European Union’s executive recommended on Monday that foreign citizens fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and those coming from countries with a good epidemiological situation be allowed to travel into the bloc without additional restrictions...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-offers-no-hassle-holidays-for-the-fully-vaccinated
Cyprus is offering hassle-free holidays to fully vaccinated individuals from 65 countries from May 10 as it seeks to recoup lost ground from the pandemic...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-opens-for-fully-vaccinated-tourists
The Republic of Cyprus will open for fully vaccinated travelers without additional entry requirements starting May 10, a day after the end of a lockdown, with the tourism minister saying both EMA-approved vaccines as well as the Russian jab will be accepted...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-tackles-russian-question-as-time-flies
Thousands of cancelations from Russia to Cyprus in just a matter of hours are testing the island’s response to the health crisis, with companies pushing their programs later in the summer pending improvement on the pandemic front...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-expected-to-land-uk-green-list
EasyJet CEO Johan Lundgren said in comments published on Friday in the British press that Greece and Cyprus were expected to be among countries to enter a so-called Green List of the British Ministry of Transport as of May 17...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/israel-committed-to-seeing-eastmed-through
Israel's cooperation with Egypt and the strengthening of relations with other Gulf states contribute to peace, while enabling Israel and Cyprus to work together with other friendly nations, Sammy Revel says in an interview with Kathimerini...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-tourism-hit-after-jet2-pulls-plug
Jet2 says it will suspend flights and holidays until at least 23 June citing uncertainty over London’s travel proposals, making the decision yet another British hit on Cyprus tourism expectations...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/tourist-form-adds-confusion-to-the-mix
New confusion emerged over requirements regarding movement of foreign tourists in the Republic of Cyprus amid pandemic measures, with industry stakeholders saying visitors do not have to send text notifications before going out and the health ministry maintaining that rules apply to all...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/imf-withdrawal-of-support-measures-should-be-gradual
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission met virtually with the Cypriot authorities from March 8–29, 2021 to discuss recent economic developments and policy priorities on the island. In an interview with Kathimerini Cyprus, IMF mission chief for Cyprus, Anita Tuladhar, said the longer the recovery period in sectors related to tourism, the greater the chance that permanent scars will remain in the economy of Cyprus. Tuladhar also noted the importance of state-sponsored programs to support the economy....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/mountain-region-to-get-€400m-revamp-by-2030
The government’s plan to revitalise mountain communities by 2030 was presented on Thursday, with the grand project including more than 300 actions budgeted at €400 million....
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cyprus-appears-upbeat-in-tourism-challenge
Cypriot tourism officials are finding several reasons to be optimistic following resumption of flights and easing of restrictions, but industry experts find it a little harder to put on a brave face...
https://knews.kathimerini.com.cy/en/news/cabinet-approves-€250m-supplementary-pandemic-budget
The Cabinet on Wednesday approved a supplementary budget of €250 million to cover needs arising from the handling of the pandemic. ...
