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Cyprus Business Now: food inflation, new coin, cruise sector, tourist arrivals

Cyprus Business Now: food inflation, new coin, cruise sector, tourist arrivals

Inflation in Cyprus has slowed for a third consecutive month, according to the Consumer Protection Service.

The service on Monday reported a decrease from 1.5 per cent in August to 0.7 per cent in September and 0.6 per cent in October 2024.

This trend is attributed to falling prices in petroleum products (-1.23 per cent), electricity (-1.96 per cent), and agricultural products (-2.17 per cent).

The association’s price observatory, which monitors the weighted average prices of 250 basic consumer products sold in 400 retail stores across Cyprus, found notable changes in various categories.


The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) on Monday announced the release of a silver collector’s coin with a nominal value of €5, minted in proof condition for 2024.

According to the announcement, only 2,000 pieces will be produced, priced at €52.

The coin will be released to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Cyprus joining the European Union.


Hellenic Bank on Monday announced a reduction of its key interest rate by 21 basis points, effective from November 14, 2024.

This move is expected to positively impact more than 90,000 borrowers across the island, the bank said.

The bank’s announcement confirmed that the base interest rate has been reduced from 2.12 per cent to 1.91 per cent.

“This development contributes directly to better management of borrowing costs for households and businesses, and consequently to the stimulation of economic growth,” the bank said in its announcement.


Tourist arrivals in Cyprus reached 3.73 million visitors in the first ten months of 2024, reflecting a 4.6 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.

This also represents a modest 0.81 per cent rise compared to the record-breaking year of 2019, according to a report released on Monday by the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat).

October 2024 alone recorded 459,106 arrivals, setting an all-time high for this month.

This was the second record-breaking month of the year, following a slight increase in August compared to the same month in 2019.


Cyprus property investors are enjoying better returns from rental income than bank deposits, with yields of up to 6 per cent far outpacing the modest 1.98 per cent average return on household deposits, according to October data.

Investors in cities like Limassol are benefiting from particularly high returns, with rental yields on apartments ranging from 4 per cent to 6 per cent.

According to Danos International Property Consultants and Valuers, seaside properties and those in sought-after neighbourhoods are especially lucrative.


Cruise ship arrivals at Limassol port have dropped sharply, with 2024 bookings falling from 200 to just 90 due to the conflict in Israel and instability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

To address the downturn, stakeholders have introduced a national strategy to revive the sector and unlock its potential.   

DP World Limassol confirmed the cancellations but remains optimistic about a rebound, with 145 bookings already secured for 2025.

“We remain optimistic for a strong recovery in 2025 and 2026,” the company said.


The third age observatory said on Monday it was satisfied with the banks’ response to providing better service for the elderly.

A recent meeting between the watchdog organisation and the banking association was “a springboard for substantial changes”, it said.

The banking association presented measures aimed at improving the daily life of the demographic in question through improvement of the banks’ user-friendliness.


Nicosia district court has dismissed a lawsuit against the state, the Central Bank and the Bank of Cyprus over the 2013 ‘haircut’ on deposits, the attorney-general’s office stated on Monday.

The plaintiff, a company which had lost money due to the bail-in imposed at the time, had cited various grounds to hold the three defendants liable. The court rejected them all.


The Association of Large Investment Projects on Monday called for the creation of “integrated tourism projects” in Cyprus as a new category of construction, with the aim of expanding the range of tourist accommodation provided.

Such an expansion would “upgrade the experience of both domestic and international visitors” to the island’s tourism hotspots, and as such called for the term “integrated tourism projects” to be defined with specific criteria.

These criteria, it said, should include that any such project be a “high-level development” both functionally and aesthetically, and that it be self-contained and part of a unified plan.


The total weight of goods transported by road within Cyprus increased by 9.1 per cent during the second quarter of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, according to a report from the Cyprus Statistical Service (Cystat).

In addition, the report showed that road freight to and from Cyprus also saw a rise, with the transported weight increasing by 9.5 per cent during the same period.


The Cyprus accountants’ association (Selk) and the University of Cyprus’ Department of Accounting and Finance (AFN) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The move aims to forge closer ties between academic education and the local job market.

According to a joint statement, the “MoU lays the groundwork for enhanced collaboration aimed at the ongoing professional development of accounting and finance professionals”.


The UK-Cyprus Enterprise Council (UKCEC), a non-profit organisation founded by members of the Cypriot diaspora, has launched its updated website.

The council aims to strengthen business ties between the United Kingdom and Cyprus while fostering networks and collaborations between professionals and entrepreneurs in both countries.


The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve) on Monday announced that the Cyprus-Austria Business Forum is set to take place on November 21, 2024.

Kicking off at at 9:30am, the event will be held under the theme of “EU Recover Mission – Repower Cyprus”.

According to the chamber, the event is being organised in collaboration with Advantage Austria, the Embassy of Austria in Cyprus, and the Cyprus-Austria Business Association.


The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) ended Monday, November 18 with losses.

The general Cyprus Stock Market Index stood at 203.69 points at 13:03, reflecting a decrease of 0.28 per cent.

The FTSE / CySE 20 Index was at 124.04 points, reflecting a drop of 0.27 per cent.

The total value of transactions amounted to €0.48 million at the aforementioned time during trading.

In terms of the sub-indexes, the main, alternative and investment firm indexes fell by 0.29 per cent, 0.43 per cent and 0.93 per cent respectively. The hotel index remained stable.

The biggest investment interest was attracted by the Bank of Cyprus (no change), Hellenic Bank (no change), Salamis Tours (-0.47 per cent), Demetra Holdings (-0.9 per cent), and Atlantic Insurance (-1.74 per cent).

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