Cyprus officials attend EU finance and shipping meetings as tourist arrivals decline

Dublin, Ireland. Cypriot Finance Minister Makis Keravnos travelled to Dublin on Thursday for Eurogroup and informal EU finance ministers’ meetings on September 18 and 19. The meetings will address economic developments, banking competitiveness, financial innovation and artificial intelligence.

EU finance meetings

Keravnos is attending the meetings as part of Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Eurogroup meeting on Friday will include an exchange of views on recent economic developments and economic policy priorities, with the participation of the chair of the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.

Ministers will also discuss measures to improve productivity and competitiveness in the euro area, based on a presentation by OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann.

Tourist arrivals

Tourist arrivals to Cyprus fell by 3.3 per cent in August, as arrivals from Britain, Poland, Germany and most other major markets weakened, while a further sharp increase from Israel limited the decline.

A total of 581,880 tourist arrivals were recorded during the month, compared with 602,026 in August 2025, according to figures released on Thursday by the statistical service, Cystat.

Despite the annual decrease, August arrivals were 4.9 per cent higher than in the same month of 2024, when Cyprus recorded 554,923 tourist arrivals.

For the January-to-August period, arrivals reached 2,820,649, down 7 per cent from 3,034,155 during the corresponding period of 2025. Cyprus received 213,506 fewer tourists during the first eight months of the year.

The shortfall has narrowed over the summer, from 10.1 per cent at the end of June to 8 per cent at the end of July and 7 per cent after August.

Shipping visit to Athens

Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis is travelling to Athens on Thursday for a three-day working visit focused on promoting the Cyprus flag, meeting shipping executives and participating in events marking World Maritime Day and the 20th anniversary of the Maritime Labour Convention.