CYPRUS GOVERNMENT TO OFFER INCENTIVES TO HALT VILLAGE MIGRATION
LIFE WITH A COMMUTE!
A POPULATION DECLINE IN MOUNTAINS VILLAGES
Village communities, mainly in rural mountainous regions of the island, are suffering from a sharp decline in numbers. Bad 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 re-population 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.
