CYPRUS GOVERNMENT TO OFFER INCENTIVES TO HALT VILLAGE MIGRATION
LIFE WITH A COMMUTE!
HALTING THE POPULATION DECLINE IN REMOTE MOUNTAIN VILLAGES
Village communities, mainly in rural mountainous regions of the island, are suffering from a sharp decline in numbers. Previous residents maintain that a decline in village infrastructure and minimal work prospects are the main factors for moving away. People from these once thriving communities continue to follow a popular migration trend that began years ago. These Cypriots feel that there are far more opportunities and much better prospects in bigger towns and cities. This has prompted the Cyprus Government to take action. They are actively promoting their Troodos Mountain villages regeneration program offering several incentives. These incentives are designed to directly address the problem of downward migration.
ABANDONED VILLAGES
There are already examples of ABANDONED VILLAGES in some rural areas all over Cyprus. These extreme instances have seen village communities slowly eroded by downward migration, culminating in a complete abandonment. This forms a classic example of what happens if no action is taken. Firmly acknowledged by the government, several villages are currently experiencing this trend. The Troodos Mountain Village regeneration program is designed to help buck the downward migration trend. The main aim of the program is to promote the repopulation of numerous small, mainly mountain village communities. The program offers new financial incentives and improvement programs aimed at infrastructure in these regions. The program also highlights a renewed commitment to regeneration, further developing AGRO-TOURISM.
STRATEGIC PLANS
The Troodos Mountain Village regeneration program is firmly aimed at rural communities that are now at risk. The overall strategic plan for regeneration is made up of a package of financial incentives aimed at people to settle or re-settle in these areas. The program also includes the construction of several environmentally sustainable developments. These developments are induced by criteria-based financial incentives for people wishing top relocate. These dwellings are all being built in rural and mountainous areas of the island. Condition-based Government funded financial incentives, for the acquisition of a residence in these areas are available on application. Government-funded support for transport costs, to help people commute rather than move, has also been introduced. It is generally thought that the new developments, as well as the financial incentives, will help strengthen economic and social innovation amongst mountain village local communities.
A REVITALISED COMMUNITY
Residents remain optimistic about the future of various remote mountain communities all over Cyprus. This is due to ongoing efforts by community leaders and authorities to repopulate these areas. An increase in people moving on a permanent basis to remote villages has led all concerned to reaffirm their efforts in order to revitalise remote communities in various villages all over Cyprus.Â
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All concerned recently clarified this at recent meetings held to address the revitalisation of mountain communities. It was broadly agreed that, amongst other things, the support granted through renewed housing plans has been largely successful, actively encouraging young families to settle permanently within mountainous village communities. The recipients, in nearly all cases, have cited financial reasons to be the main factor for the resettlement of these remote areas, boosting their respective local populations.Â
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Given this success, new initiatives, such as the modernisation and the introduction of new infrastructure projects, including affordable housing schemes, are to continue. In addition to this, community leaders constantly raise various specific issues that are also regularly heard and are resolved using several competent services. Overall, the multitude of projects underway all over the island means that the future of remote mountain communities in Cyprus looks bright.Â
