Development of Larnaca port to boost cruise tourism

The development of the port of Larnaca will help create the conditions to attract more cruise ships to Cyprus and give more options to companies, deputy minister of shipping Vasilis Demetriades said on Tuesday.

He was speaking during a visit to the offices of Kition Ocean Holdings, the contract holder for the execution of the project for the integrated development of the port and marina of Larnaca – a project he described as “particularly important, not only for the city of Larnaca but for the whole Cyprus, for the development of the economy.

“There is a clear added value for Cyprus’ maritime transport and supply chain but also for the cruise and yachting sector,” he said.

Demetriades told reporters that the deputy ministry has activities connected to the port, from ship surveillance to the security of the space, that it needs to discuss with the company to decide how to execute the project to best serve with its responsibilities on a local and European level.

Kition Ocean Holdings CEO Panos Alexandrou said the project “is progressing properly and as planned,” adding that a new passenger terminal for the port is in the licensing stage.

“We are also in an advanced stage of talks with various tourism companies, so that we can help develop the cruise industry of Cyprus through Larnaca port”.

Asked about the company’s goal for 2023, Alexandrou said it was to add eight to ten new cruises to the roster, with views to establishing the port as headquarters “for some of the largest cruise companies in the world”.

Cyprus has entered the international cruise map through large cruise ship management companies, thanks to the targeted moves of the deputy ministries of shipping and tourism, and the ministry of transport, Demetriades said.

“The fact that the port of Larnaca is also under development creates the conditions for attracting more cruises to Cyprus, and more companies that will have multiple options,” he said.

In addition to Limassol, we will now also have the port of Larnaca, while we recently saw a cruise ship at Ayia Napa marina, he added.

“Cyprus is now ready to serve large pleasure boats as well as large cruise ships which have multiple benefits for the economy of Cyprus”.

Asked about the impact of the war in Ukraine on Cyprus-flagged ships, the deputy minister said sanctions against Russia “certainly affect European shipping and, by extension, Cypriot shipping.

“We recorded some losses, but at the same time we have asked the European Commission and they have committed, through law, to present supportive measures in favour of European shipping”.

He added that he will work alongside shipping industry stakeholders to submit proposals for said measures, “as this is a proposal made by Cyprus”.