Cyprus Aims to Join Schengen Area by 2025, States President Christodoulides

Cyprus plans to address all necessary technical requirements to join the Schengen area by 2025, according to President Nikos Christodoulides.

Speaking at the "Beyond Sea and Sun" conference in Nicosia, organized by Hermes Airports, the President confirmed that all political issues related to Cyprus' accession have been resolved.

Currently, Cyprus and Ireland are the only EU member states not part of the Schengen zone, largely due to their lack of land borders with other EU nations. Christodoulides highlighted that joining the Schengen area would significantly benefit Cyprus, particularly boosting the tourism and investment sectors.

“We have tackled the political concerns surrounding the ceasefire line and are now focusing on the technical details for accession,” he stated. A specialized team within the foreign ministry is managing this process.

The Schengen area encompasses over 4 million square kilometers and covers nearly 420 million people across 29 countries. It includes 25 EU member states, the European Free Trade Association nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland), Croatia (since 2023), and, as of January 2025, Bulgaria and Romania. However, internal border checks with Cyprus are still in place, and Ireland is not within the zone.

Christodoulides also shared that Cyprus is nearing the removal of the US visa requirement for Cypriot travellers, with an American delegation scheduled to visit soon for discussions.

The President elaborated on efforts to enhance tourism by opening new embassies in Kazakhstan and Armenia to attract more visitors, compensating for the decline in Russian tourists. He cited Poland's success in becoming Cyprus’ second-largest tourism market after the UK as a model for diversification.

He linked tourism to foreign policy and other sectors like the economy, labor, education, and culture, emphasizing the importance of strengthening ties with neighboring countries, including Israel. Political collaboration with Israel aims to redirect Israeli tourists from visiting the north of Cyprus.

Furthermore, Christodoulides encouraged young Cypriots to explore career opportunities in tourism, noting that tourists appreciate interactions with local residents, which strengthens bonds with the community. The government is also promoting technical schools to attract youth into the tourism industry.

Investments are being channeled into tourist infrastructure in Troodos, and cultural and sports tourism are receiving a boost with events like FIBA 2025 and marathons.

Christodoulides also mentioned Cyprus's upcoming EU presidency in 2026, expected to draw 200,000 visitors and leading to talks on direct flights between Larnaca and Brussels.

Regarding the results so far, 2024 marked a record year for tourism in Cyprus, surpassing 4 million tourists and generating around €3 billion in revenue, contributing 13.5% to the nation’s GDP, up from 12.8% in 2023. The country's airports handled 10.5 million travelers, and Cyprus was ranked among the 30 best destinations, showcasing its resilience and potential in tourism.

He stressed the importance of collaboration between the public and private sectors in tourism development, citing investments in airports and a recent agreement with Hermes Airports to expand capacity, reflecting increasing demand.

“Today’s Cypriot airports are incomparable to those 20 or 30 years ago. We had around 20 airlines; now, we have about 55,” Christodoulides concluded.