In Cyprus and casino operator Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited has announced the partial re-opening of its chain of Cyprus Casinos (C2) venues following an over five-month shuttering linked to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hong Kong-headquartered operator used an official press release to declare that the revivals from today will allow the properties in the communities of Nicosia, Paphos, Limassol and Ayia Napa to ‘continue providing guests with an unparalleled entertainment experience’ while simultaneously ‘closely adhering to all relevant guidelines issued by the Minister of Health’.

Tough times:

The four gambling-friendly facilities are run under an exclusive 30-year license via the ICR Cyprus Holdings Limited joint venture Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited established with local conglomerate Cyprus Phassouri (Zakaki) Limited in 2017 and offer a combined selection of around 200 slots and 30 gaming tables. These enterprises were shuttered for a 13-week period last spring owing to the coronavirus pandemic with the C2 Limassol and C2 Paphos establishments having subsequently endured a related 19-day lockdown in November.

Successful scene:

More recently and Melco Resorts and Entertainment Limited was obliged to close its entire C2 estate, which moreover encompasses an outlet in the tourist hotspot of Larnaca, from December 17 after the island nation of about 1.2 million inhabitants experienced a dramatic rise in infections that took its associated death toll up to 85. However, this danger has now somewhat subsided owing to improved vaccination rates and an earlier program that had temporarily closed most unessential business and banned all public events including weddings, baptisms, funerals and conferences.

Sensible safeguards:

Although Cyprus still has 31,657 active coronavirus infections, Melco Resort and Entertainment Limited asserted that it ‘has set in place a rigorous health and hygiene plan’ so as to allow customers to once again visit four of its C2-branded facilities. The operator disclosed that this strategy ‘to safeguard the wellbeing of all guests and colleagues’ encompasses a requirement for all patrons and employees to wear protective face masks and submit to temperature checks while abiding by ‘social distancing measures for all premises and queuing areas.’

Declared dedication:

Grant Johnson serves as the C2 Property General Manager for ICR Cyprus Holdings Limited and he used the press release to proclaim that he is ‘delighted’ to be able to re-open the four venues with his company furthermore intending to ‘carry out regular and stringent disinfection and sanitisation procedures on a daily and weekly basis.’

Read a statement from Johnson…

“We are ready and committed to provide guests with the highest standards of entertainment in a safe and pleasant environment. The health and safety of our guests and colleagues is our number-one priority and we have, therefore, implemented a comprehensive series of stringent hygiene measures. We strongly believe that the re-opening of C2 will provide a boost to Cyprus’ road to recovery and contribute significantly towards enhancing the tourism industry as well as the overall local economy.”