Cyprus tourism sector criticizes power outages during heatwave

On Wednesday, July 22, 2026, widespread power outages occurred across Cyprus, significantly impacting the operations of hotel units and the overall visitor experience. In response, the Cyprus Association of Tourism Enterprises (STEK) issued a formal statement on Friday, July 24, expressing strong concern and dissatisfaction regarding the inability of the national power grid to meet increased electricity demands during a period when temperatures reached 40 degrees Celsius.

The Association described the situation as unacceptable for a modern European tourist destination, noting that such infrastructure failures damage the country's international reputation and competitiveness. Tourism officials emphasized that these internal disruptions are particularly detrimental during an already demanding season where businesses are struggling with rising operational costs, including historically high energy expenses exacerbated by regional geopolitical instability.

While stakeholders agree that the state bears the primary responsibility for ensuring energy security, the incident has sparked broader discussions about the adequacy of national infrastructure. The tourism sector remains under pressure to maintain service quality despite the persistent energy challenges, urging for immediate improvements to prevent future recurrence.