The upgrading of coastal infrastructure at Kourion, Lady’s Mile and Akti Olympion is in full progress, with the Municipalities of Kourion and Limassol moving ahead with the expansion and improvement of services provided to beachgoers. Sunbeds, umbrellas, new sanitary facilities, showers and infrastructure works are included in the plans of the local authorities ahead of the summer season.
The Municipality of Kourion is completing its beach development plan this year by expanding the placement of sunbeds and umbrellas, while for the first time it is also introducing organised services for visitors at Lady’s Mile beach. As Kourion Mayor Pantelis Georgiou told “Entrepreneurial Limassol”, following the successful implementation of the measure at Kourion Beach last year, additional sunbeds will be installed north of the third restaurant this year, completing the entire beach development plan.
At the same time, the Municipality is proceeding with a tender for new sanitary facilities in the Episkopi area, aiming to further enhance services for visitors. The Mayor also made special reference to Lady’s Mile, where approximately 200 sunbeds and umbrellas have been installed for the first time between the fourth and fifth restaurants. As he explained, the initiative is being implemented on a pilot basis, taking into account the environmental restrictions of the area, in cooperation with the Department of Environment and the administration of the British Bases.
According to Mr. Georgiou, all facilities have been fully operational since the last weekend of May.
With regard to charges, the Municipality of Kourion has decided to maintain the same prices as last year despite legislative changes. The cost will remain €2.50 for each sunbed and €2.50 for each umbrella. The Mayor stated that the objective is to keep prices affordable so as not to place an additional burden on family budgets, noting that public response last year was particularly positive.
He added that continuous cleaning was carried out both on the beach and in the sanitary facilities, with toilets being cleaned at least three times daily, while municipal revenues increased by approximately 40% compared to previous years. Mr. Georgiou further noted that the Municipality is promoting additional investments in the area, such as the construction of new lifeguard towers and improvements to the Lady’s Mile road in cooperation with the Municipality of Limassol, expressing the view that these interventions enhance both visitor numbers and the local economy.
The Municipality of Limassol has also proceeded with the installation of umbrellas and sunbeds at Akti Olympion. However, due to delays in the arrival of equipment ordered by the local authority, the facilities are expected to be fully operational by the end of June. Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis told “Entrepreneurial Limassol” that the Municipality will install as many sunbeds and umbrellas at Akti Olympion as permitted under the beach development plan.
Referring to last year’s initiative at the two sections of the beach where these facilities operated, Mr. Armeftis expressed his belief that the project was highly successful. He pointed out, first of all, that there had been an overall improvement in quality. “Plastic furniture cannot be compared to wooden sunbed furniture with a mattress, which is far more comfortable,” he stated. He added that the wooden furnishings are being installed east of Enaerios, where the beach is wider, while on the side of the Public Garden, where the beach is narrower, more flexible solutions have been selected to optimise the use and functionality of the space.
Regarding the further upgrading of the beach, Mr. Armeftis said that the contract award process is underway for the installation of six showers equipped with an electronic management system to regulate water flow and prevent misuse. “Gradually, through a series of smaller projects, services at Akti Olympion are being upgraded,” he noted. As for the tender concerning the management of the Thalassaki refreshment kiosk, the bid opening date has been set for 12 June and, according to the Mayor, the contract is expected to be awarded during July so that the facility can reopen under new management.
The Mayor pointed out that, following decisions by the Municipal Council, specific participation requirements have been introduced to ensure service quality by professional operators, while also maintaining affordable prices through price caps on nine products. Mr. Armeftis reminded that the delay in the process was due to the necessary actions required for the local authority to regain control of the premises.
Meanwhile, Amathounta Mayor Kyriakos Xydias told “Entrepreneurial Limassol” that the Municipality has been working intensively on the management of beach services, particularly with regard to sunbeds and umbrellas, with the aim of improving the services provided. He added that the possibility of these services being provided directly by the Municipality is also under consideration. However, as he noted, “at first glance, this solution does not appear to be financially viable in our case because there are many scattered locations along the coastline. These are small sites that would require a large number of staff members to maintain full control.”
The Mayor of Amathounta estimated that the most likely scenario is for the services to continue being offered through tenders awarded to private operators interested in providing them.
“We will simply upgrade the operating conditions so that citizens are served more effectively,” he concluded.
