Cyprus approves subsidised holiday scheme for low‑income retirees

The Cypriot Cabinet approved a plan to fund four‑day seaside and mountain‑region vacations for retirees with modest incomes. Eligible participants will receive full board accommodation in hotels located in the Troodos mountain range and the Kyrenia Peninsula. The scheme will operate from 5 June to 31 July 2026 and from 1 September to 30 October 2026, or until the allocated budget is exhausted.

The retirees’ union has called for a larger budget and a longer application window, warning that the current “first‑come, first‑served” approach could exclude many eligible pensioners. It also urges a review of income thresholds to broaden eligibility.

The programme aims to boost tourism in Cyprus’s high‑altitude resorts while supporting the livelihoods of retirees living on limited pensions.