IN THE face of much opposition, the cabinet has finally approved the creation of fourteen new golf courses in Cyprus, which will bring the total number on the island to seventeen. Although the decision was finalised at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, it was only announced yesterday.
But in light of the protests over water shortages, each golf course will be required to have its own desalination unit, which must be powered from renewable energy sources.
Spokesman for the Cyprus government, Stefanos Stefanou, said the actual decision had been taken by the previous government.
“It was taken for the purpose of strengthening the tourism product in Cyprus and boosting economic activity,” he said.
Adding that “In accordance with the decision, no water supplies will be given over by the government to meet the needs of these facilities“.
Those opposing so many golf courses say they will ruin the natural environment, and not only in relation to the water shortage issue. Each golf course will be accompanied by tourist units.
It is expected that courses will be built in the district of Limassol at Ayios Ambrosios, at Paramali and Fassouri, at Polis Chrysochous, in Paphos and Ammochostos-Larnaca.
