Cyprus upgrades main airports to boost travel capacity
NICOSIA, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Cyprus on Thursday officially launched a 170-million-euro (194.5 million U.S. dollars) expansion project for its two main international airports, aiming to significantly increase passenger capacity and reinforce its status as a regional travel hub.
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides laid the foundation stone at Larnaca International Airport, marking the start of the second phase of the country's airport development strategy, local media reported.
Fully financed by airport operator Hermes Airports, the project is slated for completion by 2027. The combined annual capacity of Larnaca and Paphos airports will then exceed 17 million passengers.
Tourism is a pillar of the Cypriot economy, contributing more than 13 percent to GDP. Cyprus reported more than 4 million tourist arrivals in 2024, according to figures published on the government's website. (1 euro = 1.14 U.S. dollar)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
19 minutes ago
- The Star
Int'l motorsports festival in Mongolia attracts 2,500 participants
ULAANBAATAR: More than 2,500 international motorcyclists participated in a motorsports festival entitled "Steppe Wind" here on Saturday (June 7). The tenth edition of an international motorsports festival, which kicked off from the Central Square and continued along the streets of the Mongolian capital, is co-organised by the tourism department of Ulan Bator, and "Mongolian choppers brotherhood" and "Red Falcons" non-governmental organisations. After the parade of motorcycles, the participants headed towards Khui Doloon Khudag valley, which is situated 30 kilometres from the capital city to the West. During the festival, a concert, a laser show, a belly dance show, a custom motorcycle show and a rare and antique motorcycle exhibition are scheduled to be held. The festival will continue until June 8. - Xinhua
The Star
3 hours ago
- The Star
Vietnam welcomes 9.2 million international visitors in first five months
International tourists visit Hanoi. - Photo: VNA file HANOI: Vietnam welcomed 9.2 million international arrivals in the first five months of this year, marking a 21.3 per cent increase compared to the same period last year, the National Statistics Office reported on Friday (June 6). Of the total, 7.84 million visitors arrived by air, accounting for 85.2 per cent, followed by 1.18 million arrivals by road and 175,400 by sea. Asia remained the largest source market, contributing over 7.2 million visitors. European arrivals exceeded 1.2 million, while the Americas accounted for more than 496,900 visitors, followed by Oceania and Africa. According to the office, the surge in international arrivals was driven by favourable visa policies, intensified tourism promotion campaigns and celebratory activities marking major national holidays. - Xinhua
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Billion-dollar battery plant pauses construction in US amid electric vehicle, tariff uncertainty
NEW YORK: A Japanese company has halted construction on a US$1.6 billion factory in South Carolina to help make batteries for electric BMWs, citing 'policy and market uncertainty,' reported Xinhua quoting the Associated Press. 'While Automotive Energy Supply Corp. (AESC) didn't specify what those problems are, South Carolina's Republican governor said the company is dealing with the potential loss of federal tax breaks for electric vehicle buyers and incentives for EV businesses as well as tariff uncertainties from President Donald Trump's administration,' noted the report. 'What we're doing is urging caution -- let things play out because all of these changes are taking place,' Governor Henry McMaster said. AESC announced the suspension in construction of its plant in Florence on Thursday. 'Due to policy and market uncertainty, we are pausing construction at our South Carolina facility at this time,' the company's statement said. AESC promised to restart construction, although it didn't say when, and vowed to meet its commitment to hire 1,600 workers and invest US$1.6 billion. The company said it has already invested US$1 billion in the Florence plant. The battery maker based in Japan also has facilities in China, the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Germany. In the United States, AESC has a plant in Tennessee and is building one in Kentucky. The statement didn't mention any changes with other plants.
