It is well known that for years it has become their central economic activity. The reason for the Municipalities of Paphos and Pegia and the industry of the commission of civil marriages from which they record very large revenues. This year's pandemic emergency, however, has caused an unusual scene, with losses estimated at hundreds of thousands of euros cumulatively.
The officials of the two municipal authorities are now studying their next steps in order to return to full swing in the new year, since they estimate that the rest of 2020 will be in any case non-existent activity in the field of civil marriages due to the problems that still exist in other countries with the virus, but also the malfunctions in aviation.
The return to normality in this sector is considered by the officials of the two Municipalities to be vital because of the very large revenues they have from this activity. Characteristic is the fact, as stated in "F" by the official responsible for civil marriages in the Municipality of Pegia, Maria Yagou, that only last year in the municipal funds received more than 300 thousand euros in revenue from this activity.
"There was a significant increase of 30% compared to the previous year," he explained. "Peyia is particularly popular for civil marriages in Britain in particular, but also in countries such as Russia, Israel, but also Lebanon."
Areas of Pegia such as its famous Fountain, coral bay, the annexed ship Edro II or the Sea Caves, have now become famous places in the field of civil marriage organization, Ms. Yagu pointed out.
Corresponding "high flights" were recorded before the pandemic and in the Municipality of Paphos, which in 2019 recorded a record in earnings from this activity.
The unprecedented situation created by the virus, however, has annihilated the benefits of previous years in this area, with the two local authorities now looking for alternative sources of coverage of part of the huge hole created in their finances.
DORA CHRISTODOULOU
