Larnaca tourism and business leaders urge intervention over road project delays

Tourism and business bodies in Larnaca, including the Larnaca Tourism Board (Etap) and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EBE), have requested direct intervention from President Nikos Christodoulides regarding significant delays in the Larnaca to Dhekelia road project. The project commenced in September 2022 with a 30-month timeline, initially scheduled for completion by March 2025. Following an extension of over one year, the new completion deadline is set for the end of April 2026. However, business leaders report that current progress does not align with this revised schedule, citing incomplete work on multiple fronts. These delays have resulted in measurable economic impacts, including increased hotel cancellations and hesitancy among tour operators to finalize agreements. The organizations state that previous communications with the Ministry of Transport and the contractor have failed to resolve the issue. Consequently, the letter to the president serves as a final appeal to address the damage being done to the area's reputation and economy. Stakeholders emphasize that the state has already granted significant extra time to the contractor without satisfactory results.