End of the €2.50 era on Cyprus beaches
Trips to Cyprus beaches are set to become more expensive this year, as the long-standing prices cap on beach sunbed and umbrellas is revised upward for the first time in nearly two decades.
New maximum charges approved
According to a decision by the Central Committee of Beaches, the maximum rental price for a sunbed will increase from €2.50 to €3.50 per item. The maximum charge for umbrellas will rise to €3 per item.
Official publication expected
The decision was confirmed to Economy Today by the committee’s president and Ayia Napa mayor, Christos Zannettou, who noted that the measure is pending official publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic. The announcement could be made as early as today.
Municipal discretion on final pricing
Mr Zannettou clarified that the revision applies only to the maximum allowable charge, stressing that individual municipalities will decide whether to apply the full increase. He explained that the adjustment is justified due to significant investments by local authorities in beach infrastructure and services, as well as changes in VAT since the previous cap was set nearly 20 years ago.
No expected impact on tourism competitiveness
The Ayia Napa mayor also expressed the view that the increase is not prohibitive and is unlikely to affect Cyprus’s competitiveness as a tourist destination, particularly when compared with equivalent charges in neighbouring countries such as Greece.
Long-standing pressure for revision
Pressure from municipalities to raise the cap has existed for around five years. However, the issue was put on hold during the pandemic and resurfaced over the past two years. Revenue from sunbeds and umbrellas remains a steady income source for coastal municipalities and also contributes to state revenue through VAT.
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