Ayia Napa Marina is one of the most emblematic infrastructure projects for marine tourism in Cyprus, contributing significantly to enhancing the country’s image on the international yachting map.
At a time of significant developments and growing challenges for the sector, the appointment of the Marina’s new Director, Pavlos Charalambous, marks the beginning of a new chapter for the organization.
Cyprus Yachting Magazine spoke with him about his vision, the priorities of the new management, the development prospects of Ayia Napa Marina, and the role Cyprus can play within the broader Eastern Mediterranean yachting landscape.
You are taking over the management of Ayia Napa Marina during a particularly dynamic period for marine tourism. What is your main vision for the Marina in the coming years?
My main vision is to establish Ayia Napa Marina as the leading marina in the Eastern Mediterranean - a destination of reference for superyachts, yacht owners, and professionals of the international yachting industry.
Our vision goes beyond simply managing a modern marina. Our goal is to create a sustainable, internationally recognized maritime hub that combines quality, innovation, and lifestyle experience - positioning Cyprus dynamically on the global yachting map.
What do you consider to be your immediate priorities during the first months of your tenure?
My priorities are based on three key pillars. First, maintaining the high level of services that the Marina already offers. Second, strengthening relationships with clients and partners, with the aim of maintaining trust and long-term collaborations. Third, technical upgrades, ensuring operational excellence and technical reliability without compromise.
How do you evaluate the current position of Ayia Napa Marina within the competitive landscape of Eastern Mediterranean marinas?
Ayia Napa Marina has already established a strong and competitive position among marinas in the Eastern Mediterranean. It holds international certifications and high-standard infrastructure, while its international profile continues to grow.
At the same time, it offers an enriched visitor experience and plays an active role in events and lifestyle activities. While the Marina is already among the most noteworthy and competitive in the region, becoming a true benchmark destination requires continuous strategic investment in services, partnerships, and international recognition.
Is there a specific strategic plan for attracting more high-end vessels, such as superyachts and large yachts?
Yes, there is a strategic plan of actions connected with broader local, regional, and international initiatives.
This strategy focuses on several key areas:
Enhancing high-end services and experiences. The Marina has been designed and developed as a comprehensive lifestyle destination and premium yachting hub, not merely a port infrastructure. It offers high-quality services for yacht owners, as well as marine services capable of meeting the needs of large vessels. The Marina has developed collaborative networks with other marinas, including a Memorandum of Understanding with Paralimni Marina for joint promotion and services for yacht owners. This cooperation strengthens the competitive advantage of the wider Famagusta free district as a dynamic marine destination. In addition, participation in the Eastern Mediterranean Marinas Network - together with important marinas in Rhodes, Symi and Kos - aims to promote the region jointly and improve services for yacht owners throughout the Eastern Mediterranean.
To what extent can the Marina operate as a home port and not only as a transit port?
Ayia Napa Marina can certainly function as a home port and not only as a transit port. Firstly, the marina offers extensive berthing infrastructure, with a large number of berths and the capacity to accommodate large yachts. It also provides technical services and maintenance facilities such as repairs, lifting operations, fuel supply, as well as essential services like electricity, water, and internet connectivity. These facilities are essential for yacht owners who wish to use the marina as a permanent base. Furthermore, the marina operates as a port of entry into the country, offering customs and immigration services. This allows international vessels to complete the necessary entry and exit procedures, which is a key requirement for a marina functioning as a home port. Accessibility is another important factor. The marina is located relatively close to Larnaca International Airport, facilitating travel for owners, passengers, and crew members. At the same time, the surrounding area offers a wide range of tourism and commercial services, including restaurants, retail stores, and leisure facilities that enhance the overall visitor experience. Taking all these elements into account, Ayia Napa Marina possesses the necessary infrastructure, services, and connectivity to operate effectively as a home port. At the same time, due to its geographical location in the Eastern Mediterranean, it is also frequently used as a transit port by vessels traveling between different destinations.
What are the key elements that differentiate Ayia Napa
Marina as an experience for yacht owners and visitors? Ayia Napa Marina stands out for the high level of services it offers to visitors and yacht owners. The marina’s facilities are modern and well organized, providing all the necessary services for the comfortable and safe accommodation of vessels, which greatly contributes to a positive user experience. An especially important factor is the excellent and professional staff, who are always ready to assist visitors with courtesy and efficiency. Their friendly and professional attitude creates an environment of trust and high-quality service. At the same time, the marina is distinguished by the high level of cleanliness across its facilities, both in the berthing areas and common spaces, reinforcing its image as a modern and high-quality tourism infrastructure. In addition, special emphasis is placed on security, with surveillance systems and controlled access ensuring the safety of both vessels and visitors. Overall, the combination of high-quality services, excellent staff, outstanding cleanliness, and strong security measures makes the marina a highly attractive destination for yacht owners and visitors.
Are new services or upgrades to existing infrastructure planned in the near future?
Yes, new services and further upgrades are planned for Ayia Napa Marina in the near future, aiming to continuously enhance the experience for visitors, yacht owners, and residents. Initially, the marina plans to strengthen its existing services, particularly in areas such as vessel servicing, as well as hospitality and wellness services. At the same time, greater emphasis will be placed on the development of restaurants, boutique retail, and leisure experiences, allowing the marina to operate as a comprehensive waterfront lifestyle destination throughout the year. Additionally, more international events, festivals, and marine-related activities are planned, further strengthening the marina’s role as a major marine tourism hub in the Eastern Mediterranean. At a regional level, collaborations with other marinas are also being developed in order to promote the area jointly as an important marine tourism destination and to further enhance services for yacht owners. The development strategy of Ayia Napa Marina is based on continuous service upgrades, infrastructure enhancement, and the creation of new high-quality experiences, ensuring that it maintains its position as one of the most modern and attractive marine tourism destinations in the Mediterranean.
How can Ayia Napa Marina further contribute to upgrading the tourism product of the Ayia Napa area and the Famagusta free district?
Ayia Napa Marina can play a significant role in further upgrading the tourism product of the wider region by enhancing both the quality and diversification of the visitor experience. First, the marina attracts higher-income tourism, including yacht owners and visitors who seek premium services. Their presence contributes to upgrading the image of the region and encourages the development of high-quality hospitality, gastronomy, and retail services. At the same time, the marina can function as a hub for marine tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean, attracting vessels traveling between different destinations. Through the organization of nautical events, international festivals, and sea-related activities, the region’s visibility and visitor numbers can increase significantly. In addition, the development of commercial and entertainment activities around the marina creates a new attraction point for visitors and residents alike, expanding tourism beyond the traditional “sun and sea” model and enabling the destination to offer experiences throughout the year. Finally, through collaborations with local authorities, hotels, and tourism businesses, the marina can help promote integrated tourism experiences that combine the sea, culture, gastronomy, and natural beauty of the Ayia Napa and Famagusta region. This strengthens the competitiveness of the destination and upgrades the overall tourism product of the area.
How high on the agenda of the new management is environmental management and sustainability?
Environmental management and sustainability are not simply matters of regulatory compliance but key pillars of the development strategy of Ayia Napa Marina. The adoption of sustainable practices helps protect the marine and natural environment of the area, while also improving the quality of services offered to visitors and marina users. Through responsible management practices - such as proper waste management, protection of marine ecosystems, and environmentally friendly operations - the marina contributes to preserving the natural beauty of the region. This is a significant advantage both for the local community and for tourism, as modern travelers increasingly value destinations that respect and protect the environment. At the same time, the emphasis on sustainability strengthens the international image of the marina and the wider region, attracting visitors who seek high-quality and responsible tourism experiences. In this way, environmental responsibility becomes a meaningful competitive advantage that supports the long-term development of tourism and the local economy.
In your opinion, what are the key advantages of Cyprus as a destination for international yachting?
Cyprus offers a number of important advantages that make it an attractive destination for international yachting. First of all, its geographical position in the Eastern Mediterranean makes it a strategic point between Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa. This allows recreational vessels to use Cyprus both as a starting point for voyages and as an intermediate stop on longer sea routes. Another major advantage is the excellent climate, with more than 300 days of sunshine per year and mild weather conditions that allow sailing activities almost year-round. This significantly extends the yachting tourism season. At the same time, Cyprus offers modern marinas and high-quality infrastructure - including Ayia Napa Marina - providing berthing services, technical support, and hospitality for vessels and crews. Additionally, the island offers a high level of safety and modern services, which are particularly important for yacht owners and marine tourism professionals. Its rich cultural heritage, beautiful coastlines, and well-developed tourism infrastructure create a comprehensive and attractive environment for visitors. The combination of strategic location, favorable climate, modern marina infrastructure, and high-quality tourism services makes Cyprus a highly competitive and rapidly developing destination for international yachting.
What message would you like to send today to industry professionals, yacht owners, and partners of Ayia Napa Marina?
The message we would like to send today is one of gratitude, trust, and a shared vision for the future. Ayia Napa Marina continues to grow with the aim of offering high-quality services and a complete hospitality experience for vessels and visitors. This success would not be possible without the cooperation and trust of industry professionals, yacht owners, and partners who support the daily operation and development of the marina. We would like to assure everyone that the marina remains committed to continuously upgrading its services, maintaining high hospitality standards, and developing strong partnerships. Together, we can further strengthen the position of Cyprus as a high-quality and reliable destination for international yachting. With a shared vision, professionalism, and collaboration, we can continue to develop a dynamic and competitive destination that creates lasting value for the industry, the local community, and the tourism sector.
