Retail activity has increased, with many stores inside and outside shopping centres offering discounts to coincide with the summer holiday season. Shopping centres are currently experiencing peak traffic, especially at weekends when they are often crowded. In coastal and tourist areas, however, activity is more limited.
According to shopping centre managers who spoke to Politis, footfall during the first half of 2026 increased significantly compared with last year, while growth in turnover was even stronger.
Kypros Chatzistyllis, general manager of Mall of Cyprus and Mall of Engomi, told Politis that traffic at both shopping centres is up, as is usually the case during the sales period and throughout the summer months.
“The figures for the first half of 2026,” he said, “confirm our momentum, showing clear growth compared with last year.”
Footfall at Mall of Cyprus increased by approximately 7 per cent, while Mall of Engomi recorded an increase of around 10 per cent. Sales have followed a similar upward trend, he said, stressing that “this clearly proves that people do not choose malls simply for a stroll, but primarily to shop, since spending is closely linked to footfall.”
As for consumer preferences, Chatzistyllis said that anything that “screams summer” remains particularly popular. He added that restaurants and entertainment venues have recorded similar increases, noting that “this shows that people are clearly in a better mood, which is one of the essential ingredients of summer.”
George Georgiou, general manager of Nicosia Mall, told Politis that turnover at the shopping centre rose by 9.2 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with last year, while footfall increased by 4.5 per cent.
“With more malls operating in Cyprus, several international brands have been given the opportunity to enter and establish themselves in the market, better meeting the needs of visitors,” he said.
Andreas Chatzimitsis, chief executive and co-owner of MyMall Limassol, said sales at the shopping centre increased by 12 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025, while footfall rose by 10 per cent.
“Despite extensive renovations to the underground entertainment area, costing €2 million, traffic has not been affected,” he said, adding that the underground area will reopen on 1 August 2026, giving new momentum to the centre's operations.
Marios Antoniou, secretary-general of the Pancyprian Retail Trade Association, said there is activity in the market but noted that the summer sales period is traditionally weaker than the winter sales season.
Shops in coastal and tourist areas are experiencing more limited demand, he said, adding that local consumers remain more cautious with their spending because of the high cost of living.
The retail sector's upward trend was also highlighted by figures published by Eurostat on Monday. Cyprus recorded the largest monthly and annual increase in retail trade volume among EU member states for which data were available.
Annual growth in retail turnover reached 8.4 per cent in May 2026, compared with 2.7 per cent in April.
According to figures published by the Statistical Service on 1 July, the retail trade value index increased by 9.8 per cent in May 2026 compared with the corresponding month of the previous year.
During the same month, the retail trade volume index rose by 7.5 per cent compared with May 2025.
It is also noted that, according to June inflation data, prices in the clothing and footwear sector fell by 7.7 per cent.
