The head of the Larnaca Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Naki Antoniou, has urged the President of the Republic and the government departments directly involved in the construction of the Dekeleia road to take all necessary steps to ensure the project is completed as soon as possible. He warned that the damage to the Oroklini tourist area is already substantial.
Following similar representations by the Larnaca Tourism Development and Promotion Company, the local Chamber has also approached the competent government departments, calling for the acceleration of works on the third phase of the reconstruction of the Larnaca- Dhekelia coastal road. This phase covers a three-kilometre stretch serving the Oroklini tourist area, but its implementation has been delayed by more than a year, with construction sites still operating directly in front of hotels.
Speaking to CNA, Antoniou issued a public appeal to President Nikos Christodoulides and the authorities involved in the project to act decisively so that works are completed without further delay. He stressed that every additional postponement increases losses for hotels and other tourism businesses in the area.
The third phase of the Larnaca- Dhekelia road, from the Nautical Club to the outskirts of Pyla, began in September 2022 with an original contractual completion period of 30 months. This meant the contractor should have delivered the road in March 2025. Instead, an extension of more than one year was granted, setting a new completion date for the end of April 2026. However, based on the current state of the works, delivery within the next 12–13 days is considered impossible.
Antoniou underlined the need for the road to be completed at the earliest possible date. If delays continue, he said, the financial damage to hoteliers and other businesses will be enormous. He added that, given booking cancellations and a slowdown in new reservations linked to the conflict in the Middle East, ongoing construction works and the daily disturbance they cause in front of hotels represent an additional deterrent for foreign tourists considering the area.
“It is unfortunate, because a long-standing demand of Larnaca – the relocation of the fuel storage facilities – was completed some time ago along the coastal front of the Larnaca–Dekeleia road. Now, however, a new problem has emerged with the reconstruction of the road, which should have been completed a year ago,” Antoniou said.
A few days earlier, the president of the local tourism company, Dinos Levekaritis, had sent a letter to President Christodoulides, requesting his personal intervention to speed up works on the third phase of the Dekeleia road.
Polyviou voices strong criticism
Speaking to Politis, Marios Polyviou, CEO of Sunnyseekers, which operates the luxury Radisson Beach Hotel, said the works have negatively affected all hotels in the Oroklini tourist area.
“The construction sites are right in front of our hotels, the road is difficult to access, and there is not even proper signage to guide people,” he said. “What makes matters worse is that even the first two phases of the Dekeleia road, which have been completed, present a poor image, as they have not been cleaned or landscaped properly.”
Polyviou described the road as “a disgrace for Larnaca” and said the ongoing works have led to cancellations and serious repercussions. “Even conferences scheduled to take place at our hotel have been cancelled because of the delayed works,” he said, expressing his frustration at the situation.