Food quality in Cyprus has declined despite rising tourism revenues

The newspaper Kathimerini raised concerns about the declining food quality in Cyprus, despite the growth in tourism revenues. According to the authors, tourists increasingly avoid restaurants in favor of shopping at supermarkets — food in catering establishments is expensive, tasteless, and lacks local character.

According to the Statistical Service, tourism revenue from January to April 2025 amounted to €582.5 million (+32.2% year-on-year), and the average tourist spending in April rose to €726.42 (+11.5%). However, according to journalists, food quality does not reflect these figures.

The article notes that many tourist areas serve mediocre and bland dishes, often clumsily imitating foreign cuisine. As a result, tourists prefer cheap food from stores. Restaurants that are truly worth visiting remain unnoticed by most visitors.

Journalists emphasize that a country with such potential should not offer low-quality food to those discovering Cyprus for the first time. They called on the Ministry of Tourism to intervene and influence the situation in order to encourage restaurateurs to improve service standards. Otherwise, Cyprus risks losing loyal and high-spending tourists.