New holiday scheme for low-income pensioners

Cabinet has approved a new holiday scheme for low-income pensioners for the period of September 1 to December 22 covering accommodation and full board at premises in the mountain resorts and in Pyrgos Tyllyrias.

It covers a three-night stay, from Friday to Monday or from Tuesday to Friday. Eligible beneficiaries are low-income pensioners who receive the ‘small cheque’, low-income pensioners who receive the minimum guaranteed income, pensioners with an annual income of €15,500 (if living alone) or up to €20,000 for families.

The expenditure for the participation of some 3200 beneficiaries is estimated at €500,000.

Beneficiaries must be permanent residents who have received at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine or have recovered from the virus up to 180 days before their holiday.

“The aim of the scheme is on the one hand to offer quality services or low-income pensioners and also to support mountains resorts which, through their operation, offer a significant number of jobs in areas outside the towns, reinforcing Cyprus’ tourist product during the winter months, helping in this way to extent the tourist period, and supporting to a significant extent the communities in which they are active,” the labour ministry said.

Application procedures will be announced as soon the scheme’s implementation is finalised, it concluded.