Larnaca is preparing for a landmark year in 2026, with business leaders describing the city’s tourism prospects as “extremely positive” following its selection as the European Capital of Culture for 2030. Dr Nakis Antoniou, President of the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBE), said on Tuesday that a wave of investment in boutique hotels is reshaping the coastal town’s appeal.
Dr Antoniou expressed his conviction that “the fact that Larnaca won the title of European Capital of Culture for 2030 will also help increase the attraction of tourists.” He noted that this optimism is reinforced by approximately 20 pending applications for the construction of small hotel units, specifically “boutique hotels within Larnaca.”
These applications include both the repurposing of existing buildings and the development of new tourist accommodations. Dr Antoniou explained the strategic benefit of these smaller units, noting that they do not provide every amenity found in large-scale resorts. As a result, “tourists staying in them go out and visit the restaurants, the cafes, and everything else Larnaca has to offer in its picturesque neighbourhoods and beyond.”
The President of the EBE attributed this surge in interest to thorough market research. “It is certain that investors for the construction of small hotel units did their own research and have realised that Larnaca has great prospects in terms of tourism,” he said. He further noted that the removal of the oil refinery tanks, which occupied the beachfront for decades, “helped the positive tourism outlook for the city to the greatest extent.”
While the hospitality sector grows, the fate of the city’s largest infrastructure project—the unified development of the Larnaca port and marina—remains under legal review. Dr Antoniou confirmed that a meeting is scheduled for the end of January with the Minister of Transport, Communications, and Works to discuss the latest developments.
“Specifically, we expect an update on the pilot study for the development of the Larnaca port and marina undertaken by the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund, with which the government signed an agreement last May,” he said. At the same time, the Chamber is awaiting a legal opinion from the Law Office regarding a request by businessman Panos Alexandrou, CEO of Prosperity Group CY Ltd, to take over the development under the existing contract of the Kition Ocean Holdings consortium.
Prospects are expected to improve further with the completion of the third phase of the Larnaca-Dhekelia coastal road within the year. Dr Antoniou concluded that the project “will give another prospect to the city for developments” and “will help in easier access for locals and foreign visitors, but also in increasing the tourist flow to Larnaca.”
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