Cyprus sets €400,000 annual incentives for foreign sports training camps

Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus has outlined a €400,000-a-year incentive scheme to attract foreign sports teams and athletes for training camps between 2026 and 2029. The programme includes additional support for winter camps, priority sports and stays in mountain, rural, border and remote areas.

Revised incentive scheme

The four-year scheme forms part of a wider package of tourism incentives approved by the cabinet last week.

Under the revised programme, foreign teams, sports associations and travel organisers will receive a financial incentive calculated according to where and when training takes place. The previous scheme, which ran until 2025, reimbursed specific eligible expenses.

The revised approach will allow participants to determine in advance the financial benefit of choosing Cyprus for a training camp.

Eligibility criteria

Incentive amounts will be based on tourism-benefit zones, the period of travel, training location, designated strategic-priority sports and the participation of athletes with disabilities.

Minimum incentives range from €75 to €4,000, depending on the applicable criteria.

Further support will be available for teams training in December, January and February, as part of efforts to increase sports tourism during the quieter winter period.

Priority locations and sports

Additional incentives will apply to teams staying and training in mountain, rural, border and remote areas, with the aim of spreading visitor spending beyond the main coastal resorts.

Seven sports have been designated as strategic priorities: football, cycling, athletics, swimming, triathlon, shooting and water sports. Additional support will also be available for groups comprising athletes with disabilities.

The scheme forms part of efforts to strengthen sports and training tourism, identified as a priority under Cyprus’ Tourism Strategy 2035.