Paphos Marina Project Tender Launched: A New Chapter in Nautical Tourism

The Deputy Ministry of Tourism has officially kicked off the tender process for the highly anticipated Paphos Marina development, set to be constructed in Potima, Kissonerga. This ambitious project will be delivered under a long-term DBFOT (Design, Build, Finance, Operate, Transfer) concession, marking a significant opportunity for Cyprus’s growing nautical tourism sector.

Project Overview and Scope

The marina will span approximately 165,000 square metres, featuring a state-of-the-art facility capable of accommodating up to 1,000 leisure boats. Around 70-80% of the berths will be water-based moorings, with the rest dedicated to onshore amenities. Beyond the marina itself, the development is set to include residential and commercial spaces, potentially incorporating hotel facilities and infrastructure to welcome cruise ships.

This diverse mix aims to bolster the local economy by creating jobs and broadening Paphos’s appeal as a tourism destination, a point underscored by President Nikos Christodoulides during recent stakeholder meetings. He noted the marina as a key component of 75 development projects planned for the Paphos region, with a collective investment value exceeding €230 million.

The Tender Process: A Transparent and Rigorous Approach

The government is executing a two-stage open bidding process:

1. Expression of Interest
2. Invitation to Submit Proposals

To ensure compliance with Cypriot and EU regulations, Deloitte Ltd and Triton Consulting Engineers S.A. are overseeing the procurement, emphasizing transparency and fairness. Details and official documents are accessible via the Cyprus eProcurement platform and have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union and Cyprus’s Official Gazette.

Looking Back: The Long and Winding Road to Progress

The Paphos Marina project has a complex history dating back over 30 years. Initial feasibility studies surfaced in the 1990s as Paphos was emerging as a tourism hotspot. Early tenders and awarded contracts between 2007 and 2008 met immediate legal challenges, triggering years of appeals, re-examinations, and court rulings.

Key milestones include the Supreme Court’s decisive yet non-final 2015 judgment and multiple shifts in concession awards, with companies withdrawing due to legal and commercial uncertainties. Despite repeated delays and objections continuing into 2021, government efforts have recently re-energized, updating feasibility studies and preparing strengthened tender documents designed to avoid past pitfalls.

What’s Next for Paphos and Real Estate Investors?

With the tender process now officially underway as of September 2025, all eyes are on whether Paphos will finally realize this landmark project. While the past decades offer a cautious context, this fresh initiative holds promise for significantly boosting the local market and tourism infrastructure.

For those interested in the broader Cypriot real estate landscape, exploring Cheap Apartments for Sale Cyprus or browsing Plots of Land for Sale might reveal complementary investment opportunities aligned with Paphos’s long-term development.

Stay tuned to INDEX.cy for the latest updates on this evolving story and other key real estate market trends across Cyprus.

Time will tell if Paphos Marina finally becomes a reality after more than three decades of hurdles — but optimism and renewed government commitment mean the project deserves close attention.