Cypriot hoteliers were hopeful on Tuesday that tourism would slowly recover this year after tour operators in the UK reported a surge of around 600% in holiday bookings, with Cyprus among the top destinations.

Two Cypriot ministers have joined forces this week to call on the EU’s Competition commissioner to allow more state subsidies for airlines amid the pandemic, citing improvements in scheme criteria but also the remoteness of the island.

In response to the worldwide crew change crisis, the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM) has formally proposed a practical, global approach to delivering COVID-19 vaccinations to seafarers.

Recognised as the best country in Europe for handling the pandemic, Cyprus is pinning its economic recovery on expanding medical tourism and becoming a European hub for patients rehabilitating from surgery and illness.

Over the past two years Cyprus has been a net beneficiary of EU funds, while increasing its rate of absorption of the same, MPs heard on Monday.

Stakeholders of the Cyprus Research and Innovation ecosystem had the opportunity to gain a comprehensive view of Israel’s experience and expertise in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship, through a series of digital lectures that took place in January – February.

Figures published by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) covering the period up to February 14 placed Cyprus in second place among EU member states for the vaccination of groups aged over 80 years old.

EY announced an ambition to be carbon negative in 2021 by setting targets to significantly reduce its absolute emissions and removing and offsetting more carbon than it emits. In a new statement, EY set out the seven key components of its plans to not only become carbon negative but to reduce total emissions by 40% - consistent with a science-based target - and achieve net zero in 2025.

Cyprus vaccination rollout against Covid-19 is to be boosted in March with increased AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine deliveries as health authorities reach the over 70s earlier than expected.

For a small island, Cyprus has big ambitions. Having already established itself as a growing fintech centre, Cyprus has long recognised it must continually change and challenge itself to remain relevant and it is investing heavily in technology and innovation to enhance its global competitiveness. “We should think of Cyprus as a preferred destination for international tech companies and venture capitalists”, Invest Cyprus Chairman said recently as he set out ambitious plans to shape Cyprus into a Tech Hub.