The investor selection process for the construction of a new marina in Kissonerga, in the Paphos district, is entering an active phase. The submission of proposals from interested parties will remain open until January 23. According to the President of the Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Georgios Mais, the procedure will become more transparent already this month, and the key parameters of the project will be finalized.
The extension of the application deadline was granted to allow potential bidders to submit clarifying questions and receive official explanations within the prescribed period. This made it possible to broaden the pool of interested investors and improve the quality of proposals.
Competition stages and implementation timeline
After the application deadline in January, the evaluation of bids is scheduled for March. Companies that pass the preliminary selection will be invited to participate in the next stage. Negotiations with the finalists are expected in May, while the final award of the concession is planned for the end of 2026.
According to the current schedule, construction works are expected to begin in April 2027. Tourism sector experts note that adherence to these timelines will send an important signal to investors and the Paphos real estate market, which in recent years has shown steady growth in interest from foreign buyers.
Two marina development scenarios
The tender conditions provide for the selection of one of two concepts. In both cases, the project предусматривает the creation of a marina with capacity for up to one thousand leisure vessels. The main part of the infrastructure, from 70% to 80%, will be located in the water area, while 20% to 30% will be on land.
Both concepts include residential and commercial development, as well as a hotel complex. The second option additionally provides for the creation of a separate area for mooring cruise ships, which could significantly strengthen Paphos’s position in the Eastern Mediterranean maritime tourism market.
Concession terms and the project’s significance
The project will be implemented under a 55-year concession and covers an area of approximately 166,000 m2. Despite the absence of finalized financial parameters, market analysts expect the total investment volume to amount to hundreds of millions of euros, given the scale of the infrastructure and associated development.
The international tender officially launched in September 2025 after a series of delays caused by legal and technical reviews. Initially, the competition was expected to be announced back in June 2025, but the preparatory phase extended until the end of summer.
A project with a long history of anticipation
The Paphos marina remains one of the most discussed infrastructure projects in Cyprus. According to President Nikos Christodoulides, it could become a landmark facility capable of placing Paphos among the leading tourist destinations of the Eastern Mediterranean. At the same time, the project faced legal and bureaucratic obstacles for more than 30 years, making its implementation practically impossible.
The current stage of the tender is seen as a real opportunity to finally move the initiative forward and give new impetus to the development of the region, tourism, and coastal real estate.