Filenews 16 May 2021
By Socrates Joachim
socratis@phileleftheros.com
Cypriots are very interested in cruises this year, according to the honorary president of the Association of Travel Agents Akis Kelepesi. The fact that bookings for cruises started earlier compared to package travel packages gave them a significant boost, and the fact that there are companies offering cruises exclusively for vaccinated people played its part.
In relation to the organized holiday packages, their honour and this year will have the Greek islands and especially destinations such as Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, Skiathos and Preveza. What is remarkable, as we learn, is that for the first time this year, after a decade, there will also be charter flights to Kefalonia, operated by Sky Express.
On package pricing policy, prices will be at the same level as they were in 2019. Demand, however, will not be at the same level as in 2019, but it will certainly be much better than the tragic figures recorded in 2020.
Resume flights from TUS Air
Civil aviation's approval for the resumption of flights was secured, according to cross-referenced information in the column, by TUS Air. The company, as we know, has already proceeded with the acquisition of an aircraft and after approval by civil aviation will submit in the next few days a business plan, which will ensure the viability of the new project. The aim is to fly to Greece and other neighbouring destinations in the first place, and then target flights to the Middle East and Scandinavian countries. TUS has not operated flights since October 2019, and in February 2020 tried unsuccessfully to fly APOEL fans on a chartered flight to Basel, Switzerland, a flight that never took place due to a mechanical problem with the aircraft.
The revamped Mall of Engomi
The Mall of Engomi reopened its doors to the public, fresh and renewed, after the end of the first phase of its excavation, which was completed just before Easter.
Five stores are currently operating in the shopping centre of Egolomi: Sklavenitis, Super Home Center, OVS, The Entertainer, Next and OJO Sun & Glasses, while from June they are expected to welcome consumers and other stores, some of which will have a presence for the first time in our country, such as Mailo's - The Pasta Project, which is addressed to all lovers of good pasta.
The delay in opening the shops is mainly due to the measures taken by the government to combat Covid-19, which were an obstacle to the operation of the catering sector.
The stores expected to open next year are: Beauty Line, Holland & Barrett, Cablenet, Honeydon, Piazza Gourounaki, Coffee Berry, Rokoko, and Mailo's - The Pasta Project.
Smaller and cheaper homes
Decrease was recorded, both in area (-5.1%) as well as the value (-4.6%), of building permits issued by municipal authorities and provincial administrations in February 2021.
The Statistical Office announced that the number of building permits issued in February 2021 stood at 656. The total value of these permits reached €170.1 million and the total area reached 155.9 thousand square meters. These permits provide for the construction of 663 residential units.
In the period January - February 2021, 1,150 building permits were issued compared to 1,129 in the corresponding period of the previous year, an increase of 1.9%. The total value of these licences decreased by 4.6% and the total area by 5.1%. The number of residential units showed a slight decrease of 0.8%.
Building permits are an important indication of future activity in the construction sector. This correction in Cyprus had to be made once. Because we have come to the point of seeing people driving expensive cars and staying in rent and people having large houses and having small cars.
Tourism development €3m in Peyia
The environmental authority has given a green light to the construction of a complex of 18 houses and the demolition of an existing construction, in the municipality of Peyia.
According to the report of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study (MEEP), the project concerns the demolition of 5 existing buildings and the construction of an assembly of 18 houses with a private swimming pool, while a tertiary biological wastewater treatment plant will be built. Each residence of the complex will occupy an area of 171 sq.m. and will have private parking and a swimming pool. The cost of the project is estimated at around €3 million.
Guaranteed deposits in Cyprus
According to the European Banking Authority's 2020 figures, €26.6bn (€26.6bn) will be used to fund the project. guaranteed deposits of Cypriot banks increased from 2019 to €26.1 billion. Total deposits with Cypriot banks in 2020 amounted to €48.2 billion. As a result, guaranteed deposits accounted for 55.2% of all deposits. However, it is good to know that the funds available in the deposit guarantee fund are only €78 million. from €65.4 million to €65.4 million. in 2019.
New great growth in Limassol
Green light for large development of the company HALEMO Ltd in the Limassol Tower was lit by the environmental authority. The proposed development concerns the construction and operation of a development which includes two residential buildings and four commercial buildings.
The residential buildings offer 44 apartments, a tennis court, fountains and an outdoor swimming pool. Commercial buildings offer a total of 16 store spaces with storage space for each, 6 apartments and 6 office spaces. The development will have a total of 251 parking spaces, 8 of which are for the disabled. However, seeing large growths after the abolition of the investment programme sends encouraging signals for the Cypriot economy.
In bouzoukia with Liberty Pass
With Liberty Pass and air disinfection machines will be able to unlock the entertainment centre sector as well as the wider economy, argued Nikos Vassiliou, president of the Cyprus Association of Entertainment Centers, in Insider's economic broadcast on Active.
According to Mr Vassiliou, Liberty Pass is a smart application, which is essentially an Electronic Health Identity, which collects the results of quick rapid tests of molecular tests (PCR) and vaccines. "The app will be proof that those who are in the area are negative for the virus and in addition people will feel safe. It will be "covid-free" spaces.
Liberty Pass was launched as a proposal to the Under-Secretaries of State for Innovation and Tourism to allow it to be used for other sectors. In addition, he said a special indoor ventilation system, already successfully implemented in Europe, has the potential to remove germs and the virus. The President of PA.SY.KE also stressed his conviction that from 1 June the entertainment sector will also open, something that the government and the Minister of Health assured them in his last statement.
