My cluster countries : episode 5- Cyprus

Cyprus, the Island of Love, sea, mountains and ancient times ruins.

I worked with colleagues , also known for being very hospitable and will love to show you around and tell you all about their culture.

Let me take you thru some information about this interesting Island… I miss their exotic food as well as its?Mediterranean climate with blistering summers .The country's proximity to the equator influences the temperature and its overall climate.

• The Republic of Cyprus, the third-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea has a land area of 9,251 km2. The island is shared by the Republic of Cyprus, Northern Cyprus (a country only recognized by Turkey), and the British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia (https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/cyprus.htm )
• The people of Cyprus represent two main ethnic groups, Greek and Turkish. The Greek Cypriots, who constitute nearly four-fifths of the population, descended from a mixture of aboriginal inhabitants and immigrants from the Peloponnese who colonized Cyprus starting about 1200 BC and assimilated subsequent settlers up to the 16th century. Roughly one-fifth of the population are Turkish Cypriots, descendants of the soldiers of the Ottoman army that conquered the island in 1571 and of immigrants from Anatolia brought in by the sultan’s government. Since 1974 additional immigrants from Turkey have been brought in to work vacant land and increase the total labour force. (https://www.britannica.com/place/Cyprus/People )
• Nicosia, which is located almost in the center of the island, is the capital city and is also the largest city. Other important cities in North Cyprus are Famagusta and Kyrenia.
• Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960. The independent government of Cyprus announced its existence based on the participation of Turkish and Greek communities in the management of the island’s affairs. Britain, Greece and Turkey have guaranteed the sovereignty of the Cypriot government. The Turkish Cypriot settlement declared independence in 1983 and renamed itself the Turkish Republic of North Cyprus. The island’s strategic location and connection to many cultures and ethnic groups have led to the use of Cyprus as a mediator, even for major political purposes. As a result, diplomatically, Cyprus is a very important country in the Middle East. (https://study.cihanara.com/north-cyprus/ )
• The Republic of Cyprus is a high-income country with a liberal market economy. Financial services and the tourism industry are the most important economic sectors. Cyprus' primary industries are tourism, food and beverage processing, cement and gypsum, ship repair and refurbishment, textiles, light chemicals, metal products, wood, paper, stone and clay products. (https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/cyprus.htm )

Facts and figures for Cyprus (https://www.statista.com/topics/4191/cyprus/#dossierKeyfigures )

• Gross domestic product (GDP) denotes the aggregate value of all services and goods produced within a country in any given year. GDP is an important indicator of a country's economic power. In 2020, Cyprus's gross domestic product amounted to around 23.79 billion U.S. dollars.
• In 2020, Cyprus's real gross domestic product decreased by around 5.1 percent compared to the previous year.
• In 2020, agriculture contributed around 1.94 percent to GDP of Cyprus, 12.65 percent came from the industry and 74.2 percent from the services sector.
• In 2019, 2.41 percent of the employees in Cyprus were active in the agricultural sector, 18.44 percent in industry and 79.16 percent in the service sector.
• In 2020, the average inflation rate in Cyprus increased to about -1.1 percent compared to the previous year.
• In 2019, the most important import partner for Cyprus was Greece with a share of 16 percent in all imports.
• Trade balance is the value of exported goods minus the value of imported goods. A positive trade balance signifies a trade surplus, while a negative value signifies a trade deficit. In 2020, Cyprus's trade deficit amounted to around 5.54 billion U.S. dollars.
• In 2020, Cyprus's budget deficit amounted to around 5.73 percent of GDP.

With a usual minimum of around 4 million tourist arrivals per year, it is the 40th most popular destination in the world and the 6th most popular per capita of local population. Cyprus has been a full member of the World Tourism Organization since 1975.( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourism_in_Cyprus )

Cyprus experienced a boom in the number of trips by tourists in September 2021, as 339,242 people visited the island, the Statistics Service of Cyprus has revealed.According to the authority, this figure is 288.4 per cent higher than the corresponding time in 2020, when 87,334 tourist arrivals were registered. However, compared to the pre-pandemic levels, the number of arrivals remains low by 35.3 per cent accounting for 524,707 visitors, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.( https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/news/cyprus-tourism-is-recovering-288-more-tourists-arrivals-were-registered-in-september-official-data-shows/ )

Some tourism statistics: (https://www.statista.com/map/europe/cyprus/travel-tourism-hospitality )

• The average number of inbound and domestic visitors per inhabitant in Cyprus has increased over the period from 2012 to 2018. According to the data from UNWTO, tourism intensity in Cyprus in 2018 was 6.4 visitors per inhabitant.
• The turnover of the accommodation and food service industry in Cyprus decreased significantly by 1.5 billion euros in 2020 in comparison to the previous year. This marks the lowest turnover in this industry during the observed period.
• The number of international tourist arrivals in Cyprus declined by roughly 84 percent in 2020 over the previous year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. After peaking at nearly four million in 2019, the number of inbound arrivals dropped to approximately 632 thousand in 2020, the lowest figure recorded since 2005.

Cyprus is world famous for its mild climate. It also has a rich history and unique beaches. The island has become a popular destination for tourists looking for relaxation, water sports and adventures. 320 days of the year is sunny and there are programs such as swimming, water sports, sunbathing, cycling, walking, etc. Clear blue waters, pristine lands and calm beaches are the most important tourist destinations in North Cyprus.