Financial relief and other facilities for the tenants of premises at old port of Limassol, were decided by the Cyprus Port Authority, with a view to keeping businesses alive at a difficult time for their survival and also to prevent the area from ending up being deserted. At a recent meeting, the Authority Board of Directors decided on zero rental charges for as long as the premises are closed based on the decrees issued by the Ministry of Health, effective from last April. It was also decided to reduce the rent by 30% for the period when the premises would operate under restrictive measures.
At the same time, as Limassol Port Manager Panagiotis Agathocleous told "Entrepreneurial Limassol", a greater leeway has been provided as to the area of outdoor spaces that can be used for the placement of table seats, so as to observe the distancing requirement imposed by the pandemic. Mr Agathocleous explained that this arrangement is temporary and will be terminated once the restrictive measures are lifted.
An old port fish tavern and a Chinese restaurant ceased their operations in 2020. The restaurant area has been re-rented, while at the same time a tender is active for the rental of the tavern. Part of the losses are covered by the fees paid by luxury cruise ships of large shipping companies that have been stationed offshore Moni, until the cruisebus9iness can resume. In a few days, the Moni anchorage will welcome the 8th cruise ship since last May. According to Panagiotis Agathocleous, the economic benefits are enormous for the Cypriot economy. Ships pay anchorage fees, order goods and services from local suppliers to serve their crews and use local companies to provide technical support and assistance.
