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The 961
08-06-2025
- Business
- The 961
You'll Soon Be Able To Travel Between Lebanon & Cyprus By Ferry
A ferry line between Lebanon and Cyprus is officially in the works, and if all goes according to plan, you'll soon be able to hop on a boat in Jounieh and sail straight to Larnaca by ferry – in just about four hours. Cyprus' Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades confirmed to Cyprus Mail that a group of investors has proposed launching passenger ferry crossings. This new route will enhance travel options for tourists looking to explore Cyprus by ferry. INDEVCO Group, a major Lebanese company, is leading the charge to make it happen. They're planning to launch a Cyprus-based company, fly a Cypriot flag on the ferry, and start with a vessel that can carry up to 200 passengers, providing convenient access to Cyprus by ferry. Right now, the only way to get to Cyprus from Lebanon is by air or private boat. This new route could open a more affordable (and scenic) option. Early reports suggest ticket prices might range from $100 to $200, depending on the season and demand, which could be 20% to 30% cheaper than flying. That means more Lebanese might use the ferry to not just visit Cyprus, but also connect to Europe on cheaper flights from there. Cyprus attracts nearly 5 million tourists a year, and this ferry could turn Lebanon into a quick add-on destination for those visitors. Think weekend trips, cultural escapes, or business extensions – with more travel-hungry people wanting multi-stop getaways. The Cypriot government seems fully on board (pun intended), and so does Lebanon. But some upgrades are still needed. Jounieh's port is undergoing assessments for security, border control, and infrastructure improvements, according to Rachad Zeaiter, advisor to Lebanon's Minister of Public Works. Oh – and in case you're wondering, yes, you'll still need a valid Schengen visa to enter Cyprus. If timelines stay on track, the ferry could start operating by early summer 2025. That means we could soon be sailing to Cyprus with nothing but a backpack and a playlist.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Farmers issue stark warning as relentless drought threatens food prices and supply: 'We will be searching for food'
With a drought extending into its fourth year and water levels critically low, Cyprus is on the cusp of a full-blown water crisis. If left unchecked, the country will soon have food insecurity, farmers are warning. "The situation is tragic," Panikos Hambas, the general secretary of the Union of Cypriot Farmers, told the Cyprus News Agency. Rising global temperatures have exacerbated the drought problem, which has been endemic to the Mediterranean island. Cyprus has a typical Mediterranean climate, characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. However, the winter's rainfall was once again far short of what was needed. Rainfall in January was the lowest on record in almost 30 years, per the Cyprus Mail. According to DW reporting, Cyprus has 108 dams and reservoirs that store water for drinking and agricultural use. The hotter summers and reduced rainfall are depleting their precious reserves at a critical rate, which has alarmed Cyprus farmers. The drought is causing the soil to dry up, forcing farmers to harvest crops early, resulting in reduced yields. The climate crisis is damaging agriculture — increasing food prices and putting farmers' livelihoods at risk — while devastating entire ecosystems. "We will not be talking about price hikes, but about food insecurity. We will be searching for food," Hambas warned, per the Cyprus News Agency. Cyprus is trying to build mobile desalination plants to meet its drinking water needs and free up resources for its agricultural sector. The country plans to build two additional plants to meet the population's needs, according to The Associated Press. However, desalination is expensive and energy intensive, and it produces large quantities of waste and toxic chemicals that harm marine wildlife. More sustainable agricultural practices have been successfully implemented in other parts of the world by reducing chemical and water use while boosting production. Another example is India turning to its tech sector to find innovative solutions to climate-induced problems in agriculture, while Cameroon has achieved some success in adopting traditional farming methods. Regardless of which path Cyprus follows, the underlying issue for everyone is meeting the climate crisis head-on through diplomatic, local, and individual actions. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
L'Orient-Le Jour
02-05-2025
- Business
- L'Orient-Le Jour
Plans to launch ferry linking Lebanon and Cyprus underway
BEIRUT — A passenger ferry linking Lebanon and Cyprus is set to launch soon, announced Cypriot Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades in an interview with Cyprus Mail on Tuesday. The initiative was also confirmed to L'Orient Today by Pierre Akl, managing director of supply chain at Lebanese manufacturing company INDEVCO Group, who is overseeing the project. The island could, so far, only be reached by plane or private boats. Launched in 2021 by MP and INDEVO Group CEO Neemat Frem, the plan was a longstanding ambition of Frem's father, according to Akl. 'It was initially meant to serve as an alternative in the event of war or airport disruption in Lebanon,' explained Akl. 'But it also establishes a direct European link through Cyprus and could help ease pressure on air travel. Around 100,000 passengers travel between Lebanon and Cyprus during the summer months.' Lebanon and Cyprus were once linked through ferry services, but this was halted over 20 years ago. 'A line operated by the Lebanese Forces ran between Larnaca and Jounieh for about two years during the Civil War before it was discontinued,' Akl recalled. Following the escalation of the Israeli-Hezbollah war in late September, many residents fled Lebanon by sea to Cyprus, as commercial flight options dwindled after all airlines — except the national carrier, Middle East Airlines — suspended operations in and out of the country. With MEA flights overwhelmed by surging demand and often fully booked, desperate travelers turned to exorbitantly priced yachts and ferrie s as their only remaining means of escape. 'This initiative is expected to boost economic activity and tourism,' said Frem to L'Orient Today. He added that the connection could even pave the way for joint itineraries linking the two countries, encouraging tourists headed for Cyprus to visit Lebanon on that same trip. 'Around five million tourists visit Cyprus per year. We could capitalize on this opportunity to attract visitors to Lebanon,' said Frem. Travel will also become easier for 'Cypriot businesses looking to expand into Lebanon, and vice versa,' the Cyprus Mail noted. Operations could begin by early summer 2025 According to Cyprus Mail, 'interest in the project picked up after the change of government in Lebanon earlier this year, in February.' A delegation from INDEVO, including Frem and Akl, met with Cypriot Transport Minister Vafeades last week to pitch the proposal. The minister reportedly welcomed the plan. Initial contact was facilitated through national investment authority Invest Cyprus, 'which acted as an intermediary and arranged all the meetings with the relevant authorities in Cyprus,' Akl said. Contacted, Invest Cyprus CEO Marios Tannousis said, 'It's early days [for the project]. This was a fact-finding mission by the investors.' The ferry will operate between the Larnaca and Jounieh (Kesrouan) ports (about 24 kilometers north of Beirut), with each crossing expected to take around four hours. Passengers holding Lebanese passports will be required to present valid EU Schengen visas to enter Cyprus. 'INDEVCO will establish a company in Cyprus to run the line, and will purchase the vessel which will sail under a Cypriot flag,' he added. 'We will operate only one ferry in the first phase, with a capacity of around 200 passengers.' According to a preliminary study conducted by the group, ferry tickets could be lower than plane tickets by 20 to 30 percent. 'They may go up to $200 and could go down to anything between $100 and $150 depending on the season, demand, and the load on the vessel,' Akl explained. In that case, Lebanese people would have the possibility of taking the ferry to Cyprus and catching more affordable flights to destinations across the Mediterranean and the world. 'There are a few approvals and clearances that are underway,' but operations may launch at the beginning of summer 2025 if all goes according to plan. Rachad Zeaiter, advisor to the Lebanese Public Works and Transport Minister for seaports and airport affairs, told L'Orient Today that the Jounieh port requires key infrastructure upgrades, 'including security scanners and the deployment of security forces and military men to manage the cross-border movement.' He says efforts are underway to assess and meet these requirements to facilitate the launch of Frem's project. An upcoming meeting is scheduled between INDEVCO and the ministry this week, Akl added.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Officials arrest alleged culprits in deliberate and horrific massacre of protected animals: 'Tore our hearts out'
After the brutal February killings of 16 donkeys in Cyprus shocked people around the world, four men — including a local councilor — were arrested in connection with the crime. They were detained and held for five days last week and face fines of 173,876 Turkish lira ($4,773), the Cyprus Mail reported. The wild donkeys are a symbol of the area and have roamed free on the Karpas Peninsula for 51 years. The horrific massacre was discovered by members of the Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute who were doing fieldwork at Taşkent Doğa Parkı, In-Cyprus reported. Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. They were all shot at close range with a hunting rifle, and one of the donkeys was in the midst of giving birth, according to the nature park. Taşkent Doğa Parkı said the slaughter "tore our hearts out," the Mail reported. On Saturday, a pair of athletes will embark on a 24-hour swim to "show that we stand against the b******* who committed the donkey massacre." On Sunday, there was a motorcycle rally to raise awareness for the animals. Donations have poured in as well, with a management plan for the creatures hoping to raise ₺2.28 million ($62,579), per the Mail. Taşkent Doğa Parkı director Kemal Basat said that would support 300 donkeys. The money will help improve their living conditions as well as fund a program to count, catch, check the health of, and register the donkeys. The Famagusta Gazette reported that the donkeys have been "a subject of conservation efforts" because of their declining numbers and threats to the population via human activity. With a helping hand, however, the animals could bounce back — just like a seal colony on the English coast. The two species in Cyprus have been protected since 2008, according to Heartland of Legends. They were long used in olive farming before being replaced by machinery. In 1974, during the Turkish invasion of the island, residents abandoned them as they fled. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
