Foreign investors have officially notified Cypriot authorities this week of plans to establish a new coastal ferry link between Cyprus and Lebanon, according to the announcement.  The proposal, confirmed by information obtained by Philenews on Tuesday, sets out a passenger-only connection from the port of Larnaca to Jounieh, a coastal town just north of Beirut.  Initial contacts were made through Invest Cyprus, while meetings have already taken place at the Ministry of Transport and the Deputy Ministry of Shipping. The idea, it appears, was put forward by a multinational company already active in Europe and Latin America.  As it stands, the investors intend for the company to be based in Cyprus, with the ferry sailing under the Cypriot flag.  Additional investments are also being prepared at Larnaca port to support the infrastructure needed for the new service.  Interest in the project, according to people familiar with the matter, picked up after the change of government in Lebanon earlier this year, in February.  It is worth noting that Cyprus once maintained a ferry connection with Lebanon, although services were discontinued years ago. The proposed journey would take around four hours.  Should the plan move forward, it is expected to boost not only tourism but also trade, easing travel for Cypriot businesses looking to expand into Lebanon, and vice versa.  If everything goes according to plan, the ferry service could launch as early as summer 2025. The company is not seeking any state subsidy, but a series of steps, including setting up the Cyprus-based firm, purchasing the vessel, and carrying out the necessary inspections, would need to be completed first.  Meanwhile, broader efforts to reconnect Cyprus and Lebanon have been gathering pace.  In May 2023, the two countries, alongside Greece, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to boost tourism flows and share best practices in cultural, religious and wellness tourism.  At the signing, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, said “This agreement marks a significant step in strengthening our regional ties and promoting sustainable tourism that benefits all three nations.”  The revival of direct air connections has also helped. Cyprus Airways resumed its Larnaca–Beirut–Larnaca flights in 2023 and continues to operate several weekly services, reconnecting the two countries with regular links vital for both tourism and business.  According to official figures, Lebanon imported $447 million worth of goods from Cyprus in 2023 alone, a reminder that economic ties remain strong despite regional challenges.  Lebanon, under the leadership of Minister of Tourism Laura El Khazen Lahoud, is actively working to restore confidence among travellers.  Efforts include upgrading Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport, boosting hospitality standards, and promoting new tourism projects such as Caminos Lebanon, a pilgrimage trail project launched in 2025 inspired by Spain’s Camino de Santiago.  Speaking recently at the launch of the International Cedars Festival, Minister Lahoud stressed the importance of reconnecting with Lebanon’s diaspora and regional partners.  “This occasion reflects the meaning of loyalty to our national heritage and mirrors the will to rise that the Lebanese carry, despite all the hardships our country has endured,” she told MTV Lebanon.  Meanwhile, Cyprus’s tourism sector has demonstrated a robust performance in early 2025, with the first quarter setting a new record of 450,000 tourist arrivals, according to Harris Papacharalambous, President of the Cyprus Travel and Tourism Agents Association.  January alone saw a 27.4 per cent increase in arrivals compared to the same month in 2024, totaling 112,100 visitors.  Consequently, tourism revenue in January reached €69.2 million, marking a 53.1 per cent rise year-on-year, with average spending per tourist increasing by 20.3 per cent to €617.65.  These figures see a strong start to the year, positioning Cyprus on track to surpass previous tourism records by the end of 2025.   (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Cyprus Mail