Grants totaling approximately one million euros for the creation, upgrading, and modernization of agrotourism units and dining areas in communities of the Limassol District have been secured through the Agriculture Development Programme 2014–2020, via applications submitted by the LEADER Local Programme of the Local Action Group "Development Agency of Lemesos", ANELEM.
Specifically, the funding is aimed at supporting investment actions for non-agricultural activities – Agrotourism, which are supported by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organization and were secured during the 2014–2020 programming period.
During the first call for proposals under the programme, the upgrade and modernization of the restaurant "Avli tou Themistokli" in Omodos was funded with an amount of €22,100.40. The grant covered expenses for construction works, new machinery, and equipment, and the project has been completed.
In Lofou, a grant of €91,842.23 was awarded for the creation of the "Palazzino Luxury Suites" tourist accommodation, which has also been completed. The expenses covered construction works, new equipment, machinery, and the design. Similarly, the "Creation of Tourist Accommodation" in Anogyra was funded by the Agriculture Development Programme with €117,379.75, covering construction works, machinery, equipment, and the development of studies.
During the second call for investment enhancement actions for non-agricultural activities – Agrotourism, a grant was awarded, through an application submitted by ANELEM, for the creation of a new small hotel unit in Pissouri, named “Vina Oliva Resort LTD”. The total grant of €200,000.00 was approved for ongoing construction works, with €70,268.37 disbursed so far.
Additionally, in Omodos, the new agrotourism accommodation "Elite Luxury Suites Omodos" was completed, receiving funding of €153,872.90 for construction works, new machinery, equipment, and the development of studies.
For the same expenses, funding was also provided for a new small hotel unit in Pera Pedi, with an amount of €140,005.80.
Furthermore, in Vouni, the new agrotourism accommodation "Vingt-Deux Vouni 22" received a grant of €28,165.40.
Finally, in Pissouri, construction works are underway for the creation of the tavern "To Spitiko tis Giotas," with an approved grant of €200,000.00, of which €125,000.00 has been disbursed so far. The Director of the Development Agency of Lemesos Ltd, Mr. Rakis Pierides, stated to "Entrepreneurial Limassol" that private investments in the countryside are value-added projects. "In addition to the new jobs created in the area, the increase in the number of hotel rooms with new accommodation facilities strengthens the tourist product of the region and creates the conditions for further development," added the Director of ANELEM.
