In an effort to make the island nation of Cyprus a year-round hotspot for luxury travel, a brand-new casino resort that is being hailed as the biggest of its kind in Europe recently opened.Cyprus's NICOSIA (AP) — According to officials, a brand-new casino resort in Cyprus has opened its doors, claiming to be the biggest of its kind in all of Europe. Its goal is to turn the island nation in the east Mediterranean into a year-round hotspot for upscale travel.

One of the most significant construction initiatives ever carried out in the island nation of the eastern Mediterranean is the 600 million euro ($659 million) City of Dreams Mediterranean.

The resort has a 500-room, 14-story hotel with all the amenities, including a casino, sporting venues, a family adventure park, the largest pool complex on the island, an outdoor amphitheater, eight restaurants, and a conference center.

The resort "allows Cyprus to unlock new markets in the region and beyond," Melco Resorts and Entertainment CEO Lawrence Ho told reporters.

According to Cypriot officials, the resort, which is situated outside of Limassol, a coastal town in the country's south, will bring in 300,000 more tourists annually, generate 6,500 new jobs, and inject hundreds of millions of euros into the region's economy. Cyprus, like other nations dependent on tourism, is recovering from the pandemic that reduced traveler arrivals. 

According to official statistics, there were a total of 3.9 million visitors to Cyprus between January and May of this year, a rise of 36.2% over the same period last year and nearly 4% over the previous record-breaking year of 2019.This occurs at a time when Cyprus experiences a loss of 900,000 Russian tourists each year as a result of sanctions put in place as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The City of Dreams Mediterranean, according to officials, is the first construction project in the country to receive the highest rating for its sustainability plan.

Grant Johnson, the resort's property manager, predicted that the combination of Cypriot hospitality and culture with Melco's reputation for quality entertainment and gaming would be a potent draw for tourists.

In terms of luxury travel and sizable conferences, Cyprus is now prepared to compete across Europe and the Middle East, according to Johnson.

100 tables and 1,000 slot machines are located within the casino's 7,500 square meters (81,000 square feet).

2023 The Associated Press Copyright. Toutes droits réservés. This content cannot be written over, broadcast, published, or distributed again.