**Easter Villages Initiative Set to Boost Rural Tourism in Cyprus by 2027**
The Deputy Ministry of Tourism in Cyprus has announced the launch of an Easter Villages initiative aimed at enhancing visitor engagement in the island's rural and mountainous areas during the Easter period. This initiative, which received cabinet approval last week, is scheduled to commence in 2027 and is designed to attract tourists to the Heartland of Legends route.
Under the new scheme, municipalities and communities along this scenic route will be invited to apply for funding to host Easter-themed activities. A total of ten locations will be selected to participate, offering a range of events from Holy Thursday through to the Sunday after Easter.
The proposed activities will encompass a variety of traditional practices, including food preparation, craft workshops, and the decoration of the Epitaphios, a symbolic representation of Christ’s burial. Additionally, the program will feature guided tours, lessons in Cypriot dance, performances of Byzantine music, demonstrations of iconography, and various outdoor activities. Local communities will also have the opportunity to set up stalls to promote and sell their products, further showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Cyprus.
Deputy Tourism Minister Kostas Koumis emphasized that the Easter Villages initiative aims to bolster tourism in rural areas, support local communities, and preserve Cyprus’ cultural heritage by providing authentic Easter experiences. This effort comes at a time when the tourism sector is facing challenges, particularly following a decline in visitor numbers since the beginning of 2026.
The tourism industry in Cyprus has been significantly impacted by regional instability, particularly due to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, which began in late February. As a result, tourism receipts for the first four months of 2026 fell to €443 million, a decrease of 23.9% compared to €582.5 million during the same period in 2025. Visitor spending has also seen a decline, with average expenditure per tourist dropping by 10.3% to €651.77, and daily spending decreasing from €94.34 to €80.47.
Despite these setbacks, tourism remains a crucial pillar of the Cypriot economy, contributing approximately 13 to 14% of the GDP and supporting tens of thousands of jobs both directly and indirectly. Encouragingly, there are signs that the sector is beginning to recover. For instance, tourism arrivals in May were only 4.9% lower than the record levels achieved in 2025, while still exceeding 2024 figures by 8.1%. Additionally, passenger traffic in the first three weeks of June showed resilience, standing just 4.3% below last year’s numbers and 7.1% above 2024 levels.
Earlier in the year, Cyprus experienced its strongest start to a tourism season ever recorded, with arrivals increasing by 9.1% compared to the previous year in January and February. This positive trend highlights the potential for recovery in the tourism sector, making the upcoming Easter Villages initiative a timely and strategic move to further engage visitors and promote the unique cultural offerings of Cyprus.
As the 2027 launch date approaches, stakeholders in the tourism industry are hopeful that the Easter Villages initiative will not only attract more visitors but also enhance the overall experience of tourists, providing them with deeper insights into Cypriot traditions and community life during one of the most significant periods in the Orthodox Christian calendar.