Cyprus’ seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate was 7% in March 2019 representing 31,000 people 6.9% of whom were men and 7% women.

The increase in tourism and home-sharing practices on platforms like Airbnb has led to a spike in property price and rental increases especially in Limassol, according to recently-released findings by DANOS International Property Consultants (DANOS / BNPPRE).

Hopes of Cyprus making a comeback as a holiday cruise destination have been revived as operators will double their stopovers this year compared to last season’s cruise liner traffic.

Transport Minister Vassiliki Anastasiadou said recently that the government had submitted to Chinese authorities a draft proposal on air links between Cyprus and China.

Cyprus raised €1.25 billion from a double-bond issue that was hugely oversubscribed as Nicosia tapped European markets to pay-off a 2011 Russian loan early.

Hellenic Bank said recently it had recorded a net profit of €320m in 2018 mainly on the positive impact of the negative goodwill of €297,9m stemming from the acquisition of the co-op bank.

Across Europe girls and women were largely in a minority, accounting for only 17% of all ICT students but this figure was much higher in Cyprus at 26%.

Last week, during talks held in Beirut between the Cyprus Foreign Minister, Mr. Nicos Christodoulides and Energy Minister, Mr. Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and their Lebanese counterparts Mr. Gebran Bassil and Mr. Nada Boustani it was agreed that the two countries will commence negotiations on the exploitation of natural gas reserves in their exclusive economic zones (EEZ).

The government has scrapped a competition regarding the development of Larnaca’s marina and port as a single project, but will be engaging in direct negotiations with the last remaining bidder.

The Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (Acta) recently welcomed steps being taken to boost tourism through the creation of the new deputy ministry, and plans to increase air connectivity to the island.