On July 23, 2025, the Nicosia Tourism Board (ETAP Nicosia) met with the Community Council of Farmakas to discuss new ways of boosting tourism in the area by highlighting its rich cultural, natural, religious, and gastronomic heritage.
The meeting centered on the development of a strategic tourism plan aimed at making the most of local resources, while ensuring long-term sustainability. NTB also presented its ongoing efforts to tap into funding from the LEADER rural development program, as part of the EU’s new programming period. These efforts focus on empowering rural areas through community-led initiatives.
A key outcome of the meeting was a joint decision to work towards establishing Farmakas as Cyprus’ first Easter Village in 2026. While still in the planning phase, the idea is to celebrate local traditions and create an immersive holiday experience that could attract both local and international visitors during the Easter season.
This collaboration reflects NTB’s broader commitment to a bottom-up development strategy for the mountainous communities of the Nicosia district. The goal is to strengthen local economies, enhance infrastructure, and support a more balanced and sustainable regional development model.
Farmakas is now on the path to becoming a shining example of how tradition, community, and vision can come together to shape a brighter future for rural tourism in Cyprus.
