Three years ago, City of Dreams Mediterranean opened its doors in Limassol, marking the beginning of a venture that went far beyond the boundaries of a luxury resort.
Melco Resorts & Entertainment’s vision was to contribute to something greater: to put Cyprus on the map of luxury tourism and to help the island evolve into a year-round destination. Three years later, we have many reasons to be proud of what has been achieved. This anniversary, however, is also an opportunity to look toward the future.
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Haris Papatheocharous: A photo with his wife from 2015
Pension reform: Aim is to bring it before the Cabinet soon
Cyprus has made significant strides as a tourist destination; however, the issue of seasonality continues to plague the industry. For decades, the country’s tourism product has been closely associated with the sun and the sea—rightly so—but this is only one of the island’s many attractions. If we want to create a more resilient tourism economy, we must give travelers incentives to choose Cyprus during the winter season as well.
Since July 2023, City of Dreams Mediterranean has recorded more than eight million visits, attracting guests primarily from Europe and the Middle East, demonstrating the opportunities that arise when Cyprus’s tourism offering is enriched with new options.
This multi-theme approach plays a key role in addressing seasonality, as the resort’s appeal is not based solely on weather conditions. World-class entertainment, gastronomy, wellness, sports, family activities, conferences, and events can generate demand throughout the year.
Over the past three years, Melco Resorts & Entertainment has allocated significant resources toward this goal. Our program of events has featured international artists and DJs, as well as Greek, Israeli, and Arab performers, major sporting events, Christmas celebrations, as well as our own Wet Glam Poolside Series. At the same time, we have expanded our sports offerings through partnerships in the field of golf with Limassol Greens, with Markos Pagdatis’s tennis academy, and the new padel facilities, while the 5,000-square-meter Adventure Park offers a unique entertainment option for both visitors and the local community.
The goal is simple: to give people more reasons to visit us and even more reasons to come back.
To develop a year-round destination, we need to offer a broader range of lodging options. Through organized excursions to Omodos, Lefkara, Kourio, and local wineries, our visitors have the opportunity to discover the island’s cultural heritage. At the same time, our promotional campaigns in European and Middle Eastern markets highlight Cyprus’s mild winters, natural beauty, and cultural richness.
At the same time, extending the tourist season significantly boosts the economy by ensuring more stable employment and increased demand for local businesses.
Today, City of Dreams Mediterranean provides year-round employment to more than 1,800 employees, while also supporting employment through its network of local suppliers, contractors, and service providers.
The resort also makes a significant contribution to government revenue. Since it began operations, it has paid approximately €111 million in gambling taxes and licensing fees.
However, the impact of a major tourism investment—the largest of its kind in Cyprus—should not be measured solely in numbers. Such an investment also contributes to the development of new skills, the creation of career opportunities, and support for local businesses.
One area on which we are placing a strong emphasis is business tourism. Business meetings, corporate travel, conferences, and trade shows can significantly boost the country’s economic activity even outside the summer season, when demand for leisure tourism is lower.
In 2025 alone, City of Dreams Mediterranean hosted 82 events and nearly 90,000 participants, while the Groups & Events division recorded annual growth of 30%. At the same time, the rate of repeat business over a two-year period stood at approximately 20%–25%, figures that reflect both the immediate impact and the consistent trust of our clients.
City of Dreams Mediterranean also had the honor of supporting the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, by hosting two international conferences, thereby demonstrating in practice Cyprus’s ability to organize major international events.
However, no single initiative can, on its own, transform Cyprus into a year-round destination, as this effort requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.
We need strong year-round air connectivity, ongoing investment in infrastructure and skills, and international promotion that presents a more comprehensive picture of Cyprus, beyond the traditional summer vacation. At the same time, the public and private sectors must work together to create experiences for different types of travelers throughout the year. Stakeholders should focus not merely on increasing visitor numbers, but on enhancing the authenticity of Cyprus’s tourism product.
For City of Dreams Mediterranean, the third anniversary of operations marks an important milestone—not the final destination. We continue to invest in entertainment, gastronomy, events, innovation, and, above all, our people, while simultaneously supporting the community and creating experiences that encourage visitors to discover Cyprus.
The first three years have demonstrated what we can achieve when we broaden the concept of a vacation in Cyprus. The country has the climate, culture, hospitality, natural beauty, and infrastructure to establish itself as a year-round destination. The challenge is to combine these strengths into a comprehensive and attractive package.
If we succeed, the benefits will extend beyond tourism metrics, resulting in more stable employment, stronger local businesses, greater international visibility, and a more resilient economy.
Three years after we began operations, we remain committed to this goal: to help build a stronger and more sustainable future for Cypriot tourism.
*General Manager of City of Dreams Mediterranean
