Travel Trade Cyprus February 2014

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FEBRUARY 2014

ISSUE 12

A Park is Born in Engomi OPAP Cyprus, in collaboration with Engomi Municipality, is to develop a park which will serve the local community and revitalise the area.

As part of the establishment of an artificial reefs project, the fishing vessel Nemesis III was submerged at an official event in Protaras.

03 Wizz Air Doubles Cyprus Network Wizz Air is to give the Cypriot tourism industry a major boost with the introduction of three new services from the island over the coming months.

13 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE GENERAL TOURISM BOARDS AIR INTERNATIONAL ACCOMMODATION TRAVEL CHANNELS TRAVEL TALK RENDEZVOUS NEWS& EVENTS

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Artificial Reefs Project Moves Ahead

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MARKET UPDATE

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel

Tsokkos Hotels Anticipates Better Results for 2013

COPY EDITOR

In order to fully inform the shareholders and the investing public, Tsokkos Hotels announced that the company’s financial results for 2013 are expected to be better than those of 2012.

Emily Millett SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba JOURNALIST Maria Kazeli PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103607 WEBSITE www.traveltradecyprus.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradecyprus.travel PRINTED IN CYPRUS Cyprint Plc P.O. Box 58300, CY-3732, Limassol, Cyprus Tel: +357 25 720035, Fax: +357 25 720123 Email: info@cyprint.com.cy

EXCHANGE RATES

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ccording to the group’s statement, this is mostly attributable to the increase in operational profit and the unrealised foreign exchange profit at the end of 2013, compared to the loss registered in 2012.

Moreover, Tsokkos Hotels proceeded with the full impairment in the value of its bank shares and bonds in 2012, something which affected to a great expect that

period’s final results.

Between January 1 to September 30, 2013, Tsokkos Hotels’ turnover was stable at EUR36.37 million, not exhibiting a major differentiation from the nine-month period of 2012 which concluded with EUR36.43 million.

Moreover for the period under review, income from hotel units increased two percent as a result of increased occupancy in the properties.

Louis Sells Coral Louis announced that finalising the renewal plan of its fleet, its ship owner subsidiary company, New Wave Navigation, has sold m/v Coral, the last vessel scheduled for sale, to Argo Systems which is based in Dubai.

The transaction resulted in an accounting loss of

EUR10.3 million but the company deems that there will be a positive impact on its cash flow from the receipt of the sale price being USD2.3 million (EUR1.7 million), and will benefit from savings of mooring, maintenance and security expenses, estimated at EUR500,000 on annual basis.

Accurate as of

27/01/2014 COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1EUR=

US (USD)

1.37

UK (GBP)

0.82

Switzerland (CHF)

1.22

Japan (JPY)

140.14 Coral

Claridge Records Decreased Losses

FRONT COVER PHOTO AND ABOVE PHOTO COURTESY OF LUISA BRANCO

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laridge, the shareholder of Amathus, expects to register deceased losses for 2013 as compared to 2012.

According to the company, one of the main reasons behind the figures is the reduction of loss of the group’s subsidiary company, Amathus Vacation Ownership, which is engaged in the de-

velopment and sale of residential units and in an effort to improve working capital, has earlier sold a significant number of units below cost.

In addition, associate company, Leisure Holdings, owner of Amathus Beach Rhodes has experienced a period of increased sales, further supporting Claridge’s overall results for 2013.

FEBRUARY 2014

MONTHLY NEWS

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A Park is Born in Engomi

Park Rendering

OPAP Cyprus, in collaboration with Engomi Municipality, is to develop a park serving the local community.

The creation of the park was announced at a press conference, where the initial design of the facility, as well as an introductory video, were presented.

OPAP Cyprus aims to create an open futsal pitch with ample green grass for kids and a café for adults of all ages. The recreational area is set for completion at the end of the year and will also provide free Wi-Fi Internet connection, comfortable benches, and shady spots for beautiful moments in the green areas.

Michalis Chimonas, director general, OPAP Cyprus, said, “The creation of a park not only contributes to the revitalisation of the area and the environment , but also to the entertainment of citizens .”

Arrivals Boost from the UK in November 2013 Tourist arrivals to Cyprus reached 81,542 in November 2013 compared to 84,020 in November 2012, recording a decrease of 2.9 percent.

A decline of 18.3 percent was observed in tourist arrivals from Greece, while Germany plummeted 33.2 percent, sending just 7,475 visitors in the month under review compared to 11,188 for the same period in 2012.

However, a slight but important boost of 3.5 percent was given to the Cypriot industry by the UK market, while Russian travellers increased by 7.9 percent in November 2013.

Overall, for the period January - November 2013, arrivals of tourists totalled 2,350,576 compared to 2,410,136 in the corresponding period of 2012, recording a slight decrease of 2.5 percent.

Kings Avenue Mall Inaugurated The newest addition to Paphos’ commercial offering, Kings Avenue Mall officially launched its operations in December 2013, with an opening ceremony officiated by Nikos Anastasiades, president, Cyprus, Archbishop Chrysostomos II, head of the Cypriot Orthodox Church, and Savvas Vergas, mayor, Paphos.

Various governmental officials, politicians and local dignitaries, as well as representatives of the business world of Cyprus, were also present.

In his speech, Theodoros Aristodemou, chairman, Aristo Developers Group, on behalf of the owners, revealed that the cost of the mall exceeded EUR170 million and it will provide a boost to Paphos’ economy since, in addition to being a consumer’s oasis offering countless choices for entertainment and shopping, meeting all needs and tastes, it will create jobs to more than 1,000 employees providing much needed relief to the island’s workforce.

Kings Avenue Mall which spans 82,000m2 aims to enrich and upgrade the tourism product offered by Cyprus, and Paphos in particular, Aristodemou added.

Theodoros Aristodemou

FEBRUARY 2014

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MONTHLY NEWS

Eléa Estate

Eléa Estate Supports Local Community

By holding a charity market, Eléa Estate chose to contribute its part to Paphos’ social stage. On December 1, 2013, about 1,000 people from the local community arrived at Eléa Estate to witness the launch of the holiday season with the annual Christmas bazaar, while over 50 vendors were selling handmade and imported handicrafts, entertained by dance groups, a choir, and an operatic singer.

Staff members of the property organised a lottery competition using toys and gifts collected through donations, while items made by the staff like cakes, brownies, candies, plants, and organic creams were on sale, and helped raise EUR630 which were then offered to ‘Solidarity Paphos’.

Colin Granger, organiser of the event, said, “Eléa wanted to express its gratitude to the local community for the support we received in recent years and we believe that this was the best way.”

Green Beach in Voroklini The Yiannades beach of Voroklini in Larnaca district is the latest beach to be approved for the sustainability project entitled ‘Greening Cyprus Beaches’.

In a bid to upgrade the quality of the beach and further improve its image, 950 endemic bushes and flowers have been planted along the seaside pedestrian road and Yiannades will also soon begin to implement the rest of the criteria required, by providing traditional locally made clay ashtrays, installing bins for general waste and recycling, and creating a bicycle parking area.

The acknowledgment of the green initiative will be announced at the beginning of the summer season to inform tourists as well as the general public about such endeavours and their important role in keeping the coast green.

The green beach standards are divided into broad categories that cover sand and water quality, green facilities, noise pollution, local food and drink, sustainable transport, eco beach furnishing, vegetation and planting, public environmental information and education and green signage.

Local CHA Meets Paphos Mayor The active involvement of the local government to allow for better coordination for extending the tourist season throughout the year was a key issue discussed at a meeting between Savvas Vergas, mayor, Paphos, and members of the city’s Cyprus Hotel Association (CHA) district committee, while the meeting was also attended by representatives of the Pafos Regional Board of Tourism.

Themis Philippides, chairman, Paphos district committee, CHA, expressed his satisfaction at the assurances he received from Vergas for the practical support through efforts made by the government, Cyprus Tourism Organisation and CHA in general.

“We recognise the economic difficulties there are, but many things can be done without spending a lot of money. Paphos has all those advantages, which if utilised properly, we can help achieve our greater goal. As a first step we had the liberalisation of flights from Russia which we believe is an important development that will lead to this direction,” said Philippides, while Vergas promised the introduction of a committee with the participation of CHA and Pafos Municipality, which will develop an action plan to prolong the winter season.

Themis Philippides (left) and Savvas Vergas

FEBRUARY 2014

MONTHLY NEWS

IMO Assembly

Cyprus Re-elected to the Council of Maritime Body

Air Connectivity Development Conference Held Hermes Airports invited acclaimed local and international aviation and tourism experts to increase awareness amongst all stakeholders of the importance of air connectivity and exchange views on the current industry trends and developments.

The conference, held under the title “Air Connectivity Development for Cyprus through Change, Cooperation and Innovation” at the Filoxenia Conference Centre in Nicosia, offered a unique platform to share knowledge, learn from international examples and to initiate dialogue and foster cooperation between the local authorities and the private sector.

“Cyprus, despite the financial crisis it faces, continues to offer high quality tourism and a remarkable experience to millions of visitors,” stressed Tasos Mitsopoulos, minister of communications and works, Cyprus, reiterating the ministry’s commitment to work together productively with all stakeholders and partners in order to further strengthen the tourism sector.

Cyprus has been re-elected as a member of the council of the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations’ specialised agency with responsibility for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships.

During the 28th Session of the IMO Assembly, Cyprus secured the support of 132 of the 157 member states in Category (c), receiving the fourth highest number of votes among all the countries. The island first joined the council in 1987, and has been re-elected in the same category ever since.

Cyprus’ participation in the IMO Council is considered particularly important as it allows the country to take part in the decision-making process related to matters affecting the shipping sector and reinforces the island’s status as a significant international maritime power, as well as its standing within the European Union framework.

CSTI Held Annual Meeting Focusing on Tourism’s Economic Potential Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI), an independent environmental organisation established in 2006 following an initiative

by The Travel Foundation, held its annual meeting in October 2013 in Droushia Heights Hotel along with the event titled ‘Sustainable Tourism as an Opportunity in Times of Economic Crisis’.

The welcome speech at the gathering was delivered by Julie Middleton, industry programmes manager, The Travel Foundation, while the presentation on sustainable tourism as an opportunity in times of economic crisis was given

by Theo Panayiotou, director, Cyprus International Institute of Management.

Other speakers included Marios Hannides, director general, Cyprus Tourism Organisation; Ioanna Panayiotou, commissioner for the environment, Cyprus; and Phillipos Drousiotis, chairman, CSTI. During the meeting the organisation also handed out its annual sustainability awards.

Producers Fair Held during the Event

FEBRUARY 2014

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MONTHLY NEWS

Tourism Boards

Free Wine Tasting in Larnaca Larnaka Tourism Board in collaboration with Larnaka Municipality offers the chance of free wine tasting sessions to visitors of the city.

Having started in November 2013, the lessons are offered by representatives of local companies, such as SODAP, Etko Winery, and Kyperounda Winery, member of Photos Photiades Group, every Wednesday until March 26, at the dock next to Larnaka Medieval Castle.

The course which is open to all local and foreign tourists, aims to promote the Cypriot wine and enrich touristic activities in the city.

Andreas Louroutziatis, mayor, Larnaca, and Dinos Lefkaritis, chairman, Larnaka Tourism Board, expressed their gratitude to the three companies that organise the initiative and invited Larnaca’s residents as well as visitors to the city to stop by the venue in order to enjoy the experience of tasting Cypriot wine.

CTO Organises Seminar for Bartenders Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) in collaboration with the Cyprus Bartenders Association organised a successful training course titled ‘I Sell Alcohol Responsibly’.

The seminar was held at the Thalassa Museum in Ayia Napa, while the venue was courtesy of the town’s municipality.

The seminar which proved to be a success, was attended by 25 professionals of the food and beverage industry, who expressed their satisfaction with the efforts made by CTO with regards to training and vocational accreditation.

Mapping Lefkara Municipality Selas, a leading cartographic company in Cyprus, undertook the mapping of Lefkara Municipality in an effort to register all road names and points of interest within the area of Lefkara and produce digital and printed maps.

The collection of data included all the historic and cultural sites, the churches which are abundant in the area, the lace-making and silversmith shops which constitute the originality of Lefkara, agrotourism properties and other accommodation units within the community, as well as lots of useful information concerning the municipality.

The geographical database enabled the production of thematic maps which also included description of the main sites of interest in an effort to promote the area to foreign and local tourists.

FEBRUARY 2014

Tourism Boards

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Sustainable Transport in Pictures

Limassol Tourism Board held a photo competition entitled ‘Travel GREEN and win!’, aiming to promote sustainable means of public transport in the city and spur the interest of tourists and locals in them.

The contest was organised within the framework of the European programme SEEMORE and offered generous gifts to the winners, such as stays in luxury hotels in Limassol including GrandResort Limassol, Crowne Plaza Limassol, and Elias Beach Hotel.

SEEMORE is a project envisioned to increase awareness and information among visitors about sustainable mobility options; to establish co-operation protocols between the sectors of tourism and mobility; and achieve a shift of visitors’ travel behaviour.

CTO Introduces New Leadership The board of directors of Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) held its first meeting which was presided over by its freshly-appointed chairman, in early January.

In his first statements, Costas Kadis, chairman, CTO, said, “The new board consists of distinguished people who are willing and able to contribute towards the authority’s improvement and to the development of tourism in Cyprus for the benefit of its economy.”

On his behalf, Marios Hannides, director general, CTO, added, “With the new composition of CTO’s board of directors, the organisation will be able to present even better results this year, which will support the economy of our country in this very difficult time for the island.”

Larnaca Sets Tourism Priorities In one of its latest meetings, the council of the Larnaka Tourism Board drafted an outline of the major projects that affect the region’s touristic development in order to proceed to their implementation.

The board’s priorities include the completion of the promenade near Voroklini and Pyla; the creation of the Salt Lake Environmental Centre; the renovation and upgrade of the central Lefkara square; as well as the inclusion of Larnaca in the new artificial reefs project.

For this year Larnaka Tourism Board also aims to demolish abandoned hotels situated next to luxury units in the region; complete the new hall in the Larnaca District Archaeological Museum; and finish construction of the historic Athienou Inn.

Polish Media Received by CTO A group of Polish journalists were hosted by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) which informed them about the sightseeing choices in Cyprus with a view to further promote the island as a tourist destination to the general public of their country through publishing articles about the destination in local newspapers, magazines and websites.

The hospitality programme included excursions to various parts of Cyprus, visits to attractions and archaeological sites such as a trip to Akamas. Additionally guests had the opportunity to visit various beaches in Famagusta and Paphos and enjoy the unique sunshine, while they did not hesitate to swim in the clear blue waters of the island.

Finally, the initiative included a visit to a Cypriot village, introduction to the procedure of halloumi making, and wine tasting.

Polish Media Members

FEBRUARY 2014

MONTHLY NEWS

Tourism Boards

PCCI Visits Greece The Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) had a meeting with the network of Greek municipalities with which the city is twinned.

The Cypriot chamber was represented by Elias Myrianthous, vice president, PCCI, and Kendeas Zampyrinis, director, PCCI, while among the Greek municipalities’ representatives was Yiorgos Kotronias, mayor, Lamia, the town where the meeting was held.

During the event, issues discussed included the present and future of the chambers of commerce institution, the utilisation of European, transnational, and cross-border programmes, and common training initiatives involving the participating chambers.

The next network meeting for this year will be held during the first semester in Paphos and during the second in Thessaloniki.

Chambers participating in the network include the towns of Paphos, Kalamaria, Lamia, Corfu, Lesvos, Preveza and Chania.

Paphos Ready to Welcome Russians in Winter Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Pafos Regional Board of Tourism welcomed with great satisfaction the successful conclusion of consultations between Cyprus and the Russian Federation on the liberalisation of flights between the two countries.

The implementation of the policy throughout the year is expected to be instrumental in helping to alleviate seasonality, lengthen tourist season, develop the economy and reduce unemployment.

This winter, more than 17,000 beds in the Paphos district remain in full operation and are offered at attractive prices. Recreation centres, the commercial world and other tourism professionals are all set to welcome guests and provide them with superior service and hospitality. With special attractive holiday packages for all categories of tourist accommodation, priceless cultural heritage, beautiful natural scenery and rich cultural events, Paphos promises quality winter holidays.

Paphos Archaelogical Park

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Larnaca Tourism in the Spotlight During a meeting Dinos Lefkaritis, chairman, Larnaka Tourism Board, had with Tasos Mitsopoulos, minister of communications and works, Cyprus, the two officials focused on subjects that affect the development of tourism in the coastal city.

The main issues discussed were the third and fourth phase of the Larnaca - Dhekelia road; beach erosion and the need to build breakwaters; the liberalisation of flights to and from specific destinations focusing on the Middle East; the use of the Medieval Castle for civil weddings purposes; and proposals to improve services to public transport so that they can better serve tourists.

Lefkaritis congratulated the ministry for the achievement of lifting restrictions on air traffic from Moscow and St. Petersburg while he thanked Mitsopoulos for promoting various issues which relate to Larnaca.

FEBRUARY 2014

Sports

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Peter Walton (left) and Maro Kazepi

IGTM: Attracting More Golf Visitors

Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) successfully participated in the International Golf Travel Market (IGTM) 2013 held in Spain, which attracted more than 1,200 golf business stakeholders including 600 exhibitors, 350 golf tour operators, journalists and media representatives from 60 countries from around the world.

The organisation’s delegation was headed by Maro Kazepi, tourist officer A’, golf tourism coordinator, strategic planning department, CTO, who held meetings with Peter Walton, CEO, International Association of Golf Tour Operators, as well as golf tour operators themselves and journalists from 18 countries, in a bid to best promote Cyprus as a golfing destination. Kazepi had the opportunity to highlight the competitive advantages of the island in attracting golf visitors especially during the winter months.

CSO to Enhance Ties with Russian Counterpart The development of closer relations between Russia and Cyprus in the field of sports will be pursued by the Russian Ministry of Sports and the Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO). This was agreed in a meeting in St. Petersburg, between Vitaly Moutko, minister of sports, Russia, and Pambos Stylianou, former chairman, CSO. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the World SAMBO Championships, which were held in the Russian city and were attended by a CSO delegation, following an official invitation from the organisers.

SAMBO, which is considered national sport in Russia, celebrated 75 years since its official establishment as a martial art activity, while the championships opening ceremony was also attended by Vladimir Putin, president, Russia.

FEBRUARY 2014

Nicos Severis Cyprus Youth Open Returns The Cyprus Golf Federation (CGF) has released details of the second annual competition intended to further encourage the development of junior golf on the island.

This year’s Nicos Severis Cyprus Youth Open will take place at the Sir Nick Faldo-designed Eléa Estate Golf Club, Geroskipou, Paphos on February 16, Sunday.

The overall winner of the competition will secure the title ‘Cyprus Youth Golf Champion’.

The event is being sponsored

by Marie Severis to honour the memory of her late husband who was the founding president of CGF. At the inaugural championship in 2013, a total of 21 players of various ages competed and the shorter competitions attracted some players as young as six.

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MONTHLY NEWS

Nautical

Artificial Reefs Project Moves Ahead As part of the establishment of a marine protected area with artificial reefs in Protaras, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment supervised the submerging of the fishing vessel Nemesis III after it had been cleaned-up according to relevant guidelines.

The special event took place on December 20, 2013, while it was the first time a ship was submerged for the project’s purposes.

Artificial reefs are constructions that have the same characteristics as natural reefs and act as areas for reproduction, growth, feeding and refuge for marine organisms. Apart from being unique attractions, these innovative projects are envisaged to exploit the areas’ ecological and economic potential, by becoming an awareness tool for all and encouraging the general public and targeted groups to be part of the preservation of the island’s natural wealth.

Nemesis III during the Sinking Process

Shipping is Vital for Cyprus The nautical sector has always been one of the main pillars of Cyprus’ services and an important resource for economic and social development, said Tasos Mitsopoulos, minister of communications and works, Cyprus, during the Public Consultation Day held by the ministry.

“Efforts to enhance the commercial nature of our ports are vital for the economic development of the country and social development […]. Achieving this goal requires a collective effort, planning and coordination of all required actions among all stakeholders,” Mitsopoulos said.

He also emphasised that the ministry follows the government’s strategies aimed at enhancing the shipping and nautical product of Cyprus in order to strengthen the competitiveness of its ports both in the freight and passenger transport sector. Moreover he added that Cyprus seeks to align its actions and regulatory measures promoted at the European Union level which relate to enhancing the transparency of the sector’s operations.

Focus on Protecting the Mediterranean

Nicos Kouyialis, minister of agriculture, natural resources and environment, Cyprus, represented the country at the 18th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean and its Protocols at the end of 2013 in Istanbul.

During the session, a number of issues have been discussed, such as the adoption of measures to address sea contamination from garbage, the increase in marine species as well as the preparation of an action plan to promote sustainable consumption and production.

In his speech, Kouyialis underlined the importance of the protection of the sea both for its environmental value and its significance for economic growth via job creation. He also confirmed the Cypriot government’s intention to go ahead with the preparation of a national strategic plan on green and blue development.

18th Ordinary Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean and its Protocols

FEBRUARY 2014

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Cyprus Hotels Lack Wi-Fi Offer Search engine and hotel price comparison site, trivago, conducted a research ranking the 35 most important countries on its database according to the percentage of hotels offering Internet in their guest rooms. The data is based on over 700,000 properties listed on trivago and includes Internet provided by Wi-Fi or via Ethernet cable.

Cyprus occupied one of the lowest positions in the rankings and came 30th with the percentage of the hotels that have Internet, reaching just 52.65 percent. Similarly Greece was classified 32nd.

As expected, the US occupied the top position with 89.09 percent of its accommodation establishments having either Wi-Fi or Ethernet access. The surprise came from Slovenia, which ranked sixth with 75.53 percent and Serbia which followed at seventh with 75.46 percent.

Emergency Exercise at Pafos International Airport A major emergency exercise codenamed ‘Salvation 2013’ has been successfully carried out at Pafos International Airport at the end of November 2013. The two-hour practise included various governmental and nongovernmental departments and services based both within and outside the airport.

According to the exercise scenario, 20 minutes before landing, a commercial aircraft carrying 40 passengers and a crew of six emits a distress signal due to the loss of one of its two engines. During the landing process, the aircraft crashes and ends up outside the runway with its tail and left wing, including the engine, being severed, leading to loss of life and injuries, while a fuel leak is also threatening.

To immediately deal with the incident, all services involved within and outside the airport, together with various rescue teams, were summoned, thus the airport’s management was able to determine the readiness of all the relevant services and the level of coordination among them when faced with a major emergency.

Pafos International Airport

FEBRUARY 2014

CHA Paphos: Local Government Plays Huge Role Cyprus Hotel Association (CHA)’s local committee in Paphos held meetings with two of the city’s major municipalities, Paphos and Geroskipou, to discuss issues related to the tourism industry.

Apart from the government’s, Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s, and hotelier’s efforts, much need to be done by the local government for enhancing the hotel and tourism industry.

Themis Philippides, chairman, Paphos district committee, CHA, commented that it is the first time that the sector had begun preparations for the winter season so early. “As part of this effort, there now should be common coordination to win the big bet which is vital for Paphos in order to restore winter tourism,” he said.

Philippides added that stakeholders need to work together in order to improve competitiveness, and local governments have an important role in this effort since many issues are within their jurisdiction, including various tax issues, infrastructure projects and sports facilities.

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MONTHLY NEWS

Communities Suggest: ‘Let’s Think Bike’ The municipalities of Larnaca and Nicosia in cooperation with the Dutch Embassy in Cyprus, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and the Public Works Department organised the workshop ‘Let’s Think Bike’ in a bid to promote cycling.

The event comprehensively evaluated the existing planning and programming of the cycling infrastructure in both cities, while it also analysed policy measures that should be taken in order to effectively promote the use of bicycles as alternative means of transport in the country.

Moderators of this workshop were experts from the organisation Dutch Cycling Embassy, and its chief objective was the creation of main city cycling networks, in order to connect important areas of cultural and environmental interest.

The participation of the Municipality of Larnaca at the event was part of its coordinated efforts to transform the city into a biking destination by launching friendly, safe and seamless cycling routes .

Cyprus and Russia to Increase Cooperation Following the completion of the operations of the Seventh Session of the Cyprus-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation, a protocol was signed at the end of 2013 in Moscow, which aims, amongst others, to further strengthen the relations between the two countries and enhance and develop cooperation in the fields of tourism, economy, transport, trade as well as health.

Speaking at the signing of the protocol, Harris Georgiades, minister of finance, Cyprus, referred to the fact that the close ties between the island and Russia have, in recent years, reached a higher level, which is evident from the increased cooperation and understanding demonstrated between the two countries.

According to Georgiades, the protocol will undoubtedly contribute to further develop relations between Cyprus and Russia in various fields, including tourism and transport.

Moscow

Government Welcomes Qatar Airways The Ministry of Communications and Works expressed great satisfaction with Qatar Airways’ decision to inaugurate four weekly direct services between Doha and Larnaca.

The launch of the flight, which will commence in April, follows the ministry’s intensive negotiations and is expected to further strengthen political and economic relations between the two countries, while also creating new prospects for the island.

Recognising the great significance of direct air services between Cyprus and Qatar, the ministry organised a meeting between the two countries’ aeronautical authorities in Nicosia in June 2013, where a memorandum of understanding was signed to lift all restrictions on capacity, routes, number of frequencies and types of aircraft for all flights, whether passenger or cargo, for rights of third and fourth freedom that existed in the previous agreement of 2010.

Simultaneously, the Cypriot delegation also outlined plans to grant fifth freedom rights within Europe, while codesharing provisions were also agreed and both parties encouraged their designated airlines, Qatar Airways and Cyprus Airways to conclude a relevant agreement.

FEBRUARY 2014

Air

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Wizz Air Cabin Crew

Wizz Air Doubles Cyprus Network

Wizz Air is to give the Cypriot tourism industry a major boost with the introduction of three new services from the island over the coming months, significantly increasing the capacity currently offered by the low-cost carrier.

In addition to the already announced Donetsk route, which will be inaugurated on March 30, the airline will also launch flights from Larnaca to Kiev on March 30 and to Belgrade on May 1.

With the introduction of the twice-weekly services, Wizz Air’s network from Cyprus will grow to a total of six routes in five different countries, while capacity will increase to 250,000 seats.

As Daniel de Carvalho, corporate communications manager, Wizz Air, revealed, since the launch of the Larnaca - Budapest route in April 2012 the carrier has flown some 130,000 passengers to and from the island.

Transaero Airlines: 11.7 Million Passengers in 11 Months Transaero Airlines has carried over 11.7 million passengers between January and November 2013, marking a 21.9 percent year-on-year increase.

Correspondingly, revenue passenger kilometres rose to a total of 43.61 million during the first 11 months of 2013, up 15.6 percent, demonstrating the Russian carrier’s stable development.

Similarly, the company’s cargo division also continued to deliver positive results with freight turnover reaching a total of 4.28 million tonne-kilometre, representing a year-on-year improvement of 14.4 percent and the airline delivered over 62,291 tonnes of cargo, up 4.7 percent.

Transaero Airlines

FEBRUARY 2014

Athens Cypria Hotel Becomes a SunMiles Partner Athens Cypria Hotel has joined Cyprus Airways’ SunMiles programme, which rewards the airline’s most loyal customers.

Located in the heart of the Greek capital city, Athens Cypria Hotel offers a friendly and cosy base to explore the city’s many attractions. The three-star property consists of 115 rooms, many of them offering spectacular views of the Acropolis.

Travellers staying at the hotel can now earn up to 1,000 SunMiles points for their stay which they can redeem on Cyprus Airways flights.

SunMiles card holders enjoy a range of benefits and can collect miles on various ways by choosing partner hotels and services.

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International

Pylos

Diving Parks to Open in Greece

Europe Remains a Dream Destination TripAdvisor has released the results of the biannual TripBarometer by TripAdvisor, which gathers the views of over 19,000 travellers and more than 10,000 accommodation business owners around the world.

Based on the study, although only one in three global travellers is optimistic about the economy, four in 10 travellers expect to increase their travel budget this year, with many of them planning to take more shorter trips.

The report also shows that European and Asian travellers believe that holidays are too important to spend less on, thus they are willing to make cutbacks in their daily lives. Correspondingly, accommodation businesses are optimistic about their profitability this year, with 56 percent of European hoteliers expecting profit.

According to TripAdvisor, Europe is expected to remain the preferred destination, not only by Europeans but also by international travellers.

According to Marketing Greece, a new, financially independent non-profit organisation that acts as the official representative of the Greek tourism industry, this year will see the launch of the very first diving parks in the country, creating exciting opportunities for visitors to the country.

The underwater project is to be operational by summer, as the Mediterranean country is investing in developing diving tourism and the two parks will be the first underwater archaeological sites open to visitors.

The parks will be located near the historic coastal town of Pylos in the southwestern Peloponnese, which is home to a number of ancient shipwrecks.

Citing the European Recreational Scuba Training Council, Marketing Greece estimates there are almost four million divers in Europe and 70 percent choose Mediterranean destinations for their hobby.

Founded in 2013, Marketing Greece represents the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises, the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels and the Association of Greek Advertising Companies, while it cooperates closely with the Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organisation.

Spain: Still the Mediterranean Favourite Spain retained its position as the most popular Mediterranean destination by total international seat capacity for July 2013, while Cyprus also made it to the top 10, OAG’s July Frequency and Capacity Trends Statistics report showed.

Spain topped the list with 15.9 million seats offered by scheduled carriers, followed by Italy and Turkey with 10.7 million and 7.1 million seats. Greece ranked on the fourth place with 3.8 million seats, and Portugal, Egypt, Morocco, Israel, Tunisia and Cyprus completed the top 10 with Cyprus recording1.2 million seats.

The fastest growing destination proved to be Tunisia, with scheduled international airline seat capacity to and from the country jumping 24 percent year-on-year, and other North African countries, including Egypt and Morocco also experiencing notable increases.

Barcelona

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Accommodation

MONTHLY NEWS

15

Hébe Spa

Columbia Beach Resort Wins Best International Spa for a Romantic Getaway

Hébe Spa at Columbia Beach Resort, the five-star luxury hotel in Pissouri Bay, has been recognised at the Spa Travellers Awards, winning the Readers’ Choice Award in the Best International Spa for a Romantic Getaway category.

The accolade follows the hotel’s previous honours, which include the Mediterranean’s Leading Spa Resort, Cyprus’ Leading Spa Resort and the Best Spa Hotel awards.

Hébe Spa offers a leading luxury British spa and skincare brand Elemis, whose therapies and treatments are available alongside the existing holistic anti-ageing beauty and spa range. In addition, guests can also take advantage of the spa’s signature treatments which are based on Cyprus’ finest natural ingredients.

Athens Ledra Marriott Reopens Restaurant The luxurious Athens Ledra Marriott has celebrated the relaunch of the Kona Kai restaurant, one of the favourite spots of Asian and Polynesian food lovers in the Greek capital city.

Kona Kai has long been one of the leaders in offering Athenians a repertoire of fine Polynesian tastes, a fusion of Asian dishes and Japanese Teppanyaki-style cuisines, with celebrities, political figures, technocrats of political and social life and many locals enjoying fine gourmet specialties in a pleasant ambience with mirrors on the ceiling, running waters, statues and giant posters of exotic landscapes.

To mark the reopening of the restaurant, which also coincides with its 30th year anniversary, a new menu has been introduced featuring old time classic delicacies and new exotic cocktails all complimented with a new wine list.

Kona Kai restaurant

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Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol Changes Owner Amathus Public announced that it has signed an agreement with Cyprus-based Muskita Hotels and Palmar Investments, which provides the establishment of a new company into which Amathus Public will invest with a share of 25 percent, Muskita Hotels with 50 percent and Palmar Investments with 25 percent.

The newly-formed company will purchase Amathus Beach Hotel Limassol for an amount of EUR71 million, which includes the hotel’s private land, the leased land, the property’s contents as well as its trademark.

According to Amathus Public’s announcement, the company entered into the transaction in order to address the economic situation created after the Eurogroup events in March 2013.The performance of the hotel in the last years of its operation was good, but due to the business’ financial costs and proceeds of associated companies, the consolidated results were loss-making. However upon completion of the transaction, Amathus Public expects a profit of approximately EUR10 million before taxation.

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TRAVEL CHANNELS

‘Lost Heritage: Cyprus 1974-2013’ in Toronto On the occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the Cypriot independence celebrated on October 1, the photo exhibition ‘Lost Heritage: Cyprus 1974 - 2013’ was held in Canada.

T Toronto, Canada

Cypriots are Best Ambassadors of Tourism Speaking at the annual presentation of the programme ‘Cyprus, Small Escapes, Great Discoveries!’, Marios Hannides, director general, Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), underlined that the initiative which runs since 2008 is important for the country’s industry, since Cypriots can become the best ambassadors of tourism for all foreign visitors into the island.

The scheme, which aims to improve domestic tourism figures, enhance winter tourism, mitigate seasonality, and promote Cyprus’ beauties to local residents, had an understandable decrease this year with numbers totalling 2,681, compared to 3,348 in 2011/2012.

Lygia Dermatis, senior tourist officer, CTO, added that visiting Cyprus’ various hidden treasures with a CTO certified tour guide, which is offered as part of the programme’s half-day excursion, is a rewarding and enriching experience.

The initiative runs in collaboration with Top Kinisis Travel and relevant bookings can be also made online at cyprusshortescapes.com.

he event was organised by the Consulate General of Cyprus in cooperation with Canada’s International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus, while it included 34 photos of distinguished Cypriot photographer, Doros Partasidis, depicting churches and cultural monuments in the occupied areas which were destroyed and looted by the Turkish invaders.

The exhibition was officiated by Iakovos Kirakossian, consul general, Cyprus, Toronto, who having praised the work of the artist, also emphasised the dimension of the disaster suffered by the Cypriot cultural heritage since the Turkish invasion in 1974. He pointed out that the government of Cyprus is struggling for this issue and for the repatriation of objects illegally exported from the occupied areas.

Train the Trainer Course Held by WFTGA The World Federation of Tourist Guide Association (WFTGA)’s WFTGA International Training Centre Nicosia and the University of Cyprus organised a ‘Train a Trainer Course’ for tourist guides.

Having run between November 11 - 22, 2013, at the organisation’s training centre in Nicosia, the courses focused on practical guiding skills, applied

knowledge, cultural studies and business studies.

Sponsored by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, A.G. Leventis Foundation, University of Cyprus, Cyprus Tourist Guides Association and WFTGA, the programme enabled tourist guides to further improve their training skills and gain WFTGA accreditation to train tourist guides in their own country.

Energy Production from Paphos Hotels’ Waste During a meeting Paphos committee of the Cyprus Hotel Association (CHA) decided to investigate the issue of using waste from the district’s hotel units for production of electricity. “We believe it would be a good initiative by CHA, in order to firstly avoid damaging the environment and secondly for utilising the energy produced,” said Themis Philippides, chairman, Paphos district committee, CHA. Apart from practical and substantive benefits, the initiative aims to send a message to both hoteliers and other businessmen and citizens of Paphos regarding awareness on environmental management issues.

Hoteliers already have been informed about this issue by specialised companies, while as a first step it is important to carry out a techno-economic study for the creation of a waste management unit. At the same time it is being investigated whether this green initiative can be financed

by European Union funds.

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RENDEZVOUS

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Q & A with Elena Tanou Nicosia is a destination that will reward visitors in search of something different, according to Elena Tanou, president, Nicosia Tourism Board, who suggests that the Cypriot capital city has nothing to envy compared to its local as well as its international competitors.

Travel Trade Cyprus: How many visitors did Nicosia receive in 2013, and was there a year-on-year increase? Which were the main feeder markets for the capital?

Elena Tanou: Nicosia received 187,902 overnight visitors between January - September 2013, based on statistics by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation. The levels are similar to previous years. The main feeder markets are the following; Greece, UK, Israel, and Germany.

exhibits and how can other segments - like medical, cultural and religious tourism - be developed in order to attract more visitors?

Elena Tanou President, Nicosia Tourism Board

Travel Trade Cyprus: The Council of European Municipalities and Regions’ 26th general assembly will be hosted in Nicosia in 2016. How is this set to contribute to the capital’s growing conference tourism? What are the board’s plans for enhancing this market?

Elena Tanou: Hosting an event like this will attract around 1,200 visitors for at least three nights in the capital. This event is undoubtedly a fantastic opportunity for us to prove that Nicosia, amongst the other advantages it has, can successfully organise European conferences of any magnitude and calibre. The conference will contribute financially to the level of nearly EUR1.5 million and this is a significant injection to the economy during this crisis.

When Cyprus was holding the presidency of the European Union, the city went through a facelift whereby major improvements where carried out to clean and shipshape the capital. The same actions will be carried out to celebrate this great conference.

On the cultural side of things, great events will be organised to entertain and educate our guests and take them on a travel throughout our history.

The board’s future plans for enhancing this market are to attract more European conferences and events big or small in order to establish Nicosia as one of the first choices in Cyprus for hosting conferences and events.

Nicosia being the capital has a strong competitive advantage to initiate governmental events and hosting many universities can attract academic/educational conferences.

Travel Trade Cyprus: Cyprus’ capital being located in the mainland cannot lure tourists with sun and sea. What are the comparative advantages Nicosia

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Elena Tanou: The objectives are to provide changes in the tourist environment and refocus governmental and private sector efforts at national, regional and local levels towards the implementation of actions in key strategic areas. Within this framework, the Nicosia Tourism Board was established in January 2008. It is a private limited company with 13 members of the board. The company’s aims are to reposition Nicosia and to develop and promote tourism in Nicosia. The strategic plan is focusing on five major areas.

[Starting with] cultural tourism, Nicosia is the cultural centre of the island. It has churches, monuments, archaeological places, and the old city ‘within the walls’. The archaeological museum located in town is the main and largest museum on the island.

The following projects are under development to improve the infrastructure; renovation of the archaeological museum, lighting of the old city and monuments, regeneration of the old city, and renovation of the Eleftheria Square.

[The second pillar being] conference and incentives tourism, [I must note] the hotels in town offer state-of-the-art facilities for conferences and meetings, as well as the Filoxenia Conference Centre.

[Thirdly,] as for sports tourism, Nicosia offers a range of up-to-date sports facilities. Among others it has a European standards grass football field, GSP, a synthetic track athletic stadium, Olympic swimming pool and a European standard shooting club. The creation of many long bike paths can host cycling clubs and federations to train or enjoy cycling in Nicosia and its suburbs in perfect climate conditions and a secure environment. The goal is to establish Nicosia as a sports and training destination.

[Fourthly], business tourism [is vital] as all major banks, head offices, diplomatic missions, government offices and research institutes are located in Nicosia.

Furthermore, due to the geographical position Nicosia can be established as the business and commercial centre, and a centre of financial services.

[Lastly, concerning] medical tourism Nicosia offers high standards of medical care. It has many wellequipped and technologically sophisticated clinics and highly qualified specialist doctors. It can definitely be a medical tourism attraction.

Travel Trade Cyprus: Do you believe that Nicosia, as a modern European capital, has an adequate and diverse tourism product? What are the board’s plans to improve this offering?

Elena Tanou: As a result of the various architectural influences that are visible throughout the city, one cannot help but be charmed by the manner in which past and present, traditional and contemporary have seamlessly fused together.

The modern city centre will capture your imagination from the start, with its melting pot of influences that give the city a unique image. The city’s landmarks, museums, theatres, musical events and galleries both inspire and fascinate. Ledras, Onasagorou, Stasikratous and Mnasiadou streets offer shopping options that are comparable to many European countries. Nicosia also offers Cypriot and international culinary temptations in the many luxury restaurants that line its streets.

The board’s plans are to help promote Nicosia as a conference and medical tourism destination and help improve the infrastructure. Incentives are of vital importance, therefore we tend to upgrade our markets, extend our network, place priorities and with this integrated approach promote Nicosia for short vacations, business, educational, shopping and cultural trips.

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TRAVEL TALK MICHAEL KARASAVVAS

travel talk is your space

Honorary consul of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, Cyprus.

“A new trend which has been noticed the last few years in the hotel industry and which will cause dilemma to entrepreneurs in the tourist industry is the increase of tourists’ preference of boutique hotels. To what extent and how could Larnaca keep up with the new trend of boutique hotels? […]

Firstly, the presence of boutique hotels in Larnaca would differentiate and modernise the touristic profile while at the same time enhances the city’s competitiveness. Given the fact that these types of hotels have their own customer circle, which usually are economically affluent, will also attract a new category of travellers with specific demands, interests and needs

DANIEL DE CARVALHO Corporate communications manager, Wizz Air.

“At Wizz Air we are committed to delivering low fares on routes that are attractive for our customers. This commitment is underlined by the launch of two new exciting routes connecting Cyprus with Serbia and Ukraine. We look forward to carrying many Cypriots to the historic cities of Kiev and Belgrade as well as to Donetsk, while Serbian and Ukraine travellers can visit beautiful Cyprus on our very low fares.”

We look forward to carrying many Cypriots to the historic cities of Kiev and Belgrade

something which will pave the way for a new customer flow in the city.

Furthermore, the unique character of the boutique hotels, will give a boost to the aesthetic environment of the city, which without a doubt is in need. As Larnaca has history and a specific traditional character which has been ignored for years, it is about time to take advantage of the tradition, to highlight and promote its beauty as this will make Larnaca competitive. […]

The boutique hotels are connected to new trends in the tourism industry and have their own growing and economically affluent market customers.”

INGRID PRICE Spa manager, Ayii Anargyri Natural Healing Spa Resort.

“The spa offers a full range of beauty treatments that include various types of body treatments featuring our mud cocoon wraps, and an extensive range of hydro-therapy treatments with our healing sulphur waters including underwater massage, pedidaix jet water massage for tired legs; the Bertholaix that gently warms the spine and muscles with warm steam; and the Thalaxion Circulation Booster Capsule which improves circulation and water retention. The thermal mud treatment is warm mud that envelopes the hands, relieving joint pain and stiffness while the client exercises her hand in the warm mud.”

TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradecyprus.travel FEBRUARY 2014

RENDEZVOUS

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Q & A with Lakis Avraamides The Famagusta region offers a diverse product, however many other kinds of tourism can be introduced and this is the end goal, according to Lakis Avraamides, manager, Ayia Napa - Protaras - Famagusta Region Tourism Board, which is to further invest in new markets.

Travel Trade Cyprus: How many visitors did Ayia Napa and Protaras receive in 2013, and how satisfying are those figures?

Lakis Avraamides: The season [closed] on the same level as [2012]. Ayia Napa and Protaras once again had the biggest share of the arrivals. We estimate that around 900,000 tourists ended up in Ayia Napa and Protaras. This is thanks to the Russian market which at the beginning of the crisis suffered a lot, but when the market recovered, Ayia Napa and Protaras received nearly 50 percent of the Russian visitors which helped the region to have high occupancy during the high season.

What is good for the area is that, although we have the main share of the Russian market, we have also the biggest share of other major markets, like the Nordic countries and Switzerland. [...] The problem is that other main markets are declining year after year.

UK and Germany are the two main ones.

However the most important is not the number of arrivals, but the number of overnights. Here we have over six million overnights which is just over 41 percent of the overnights all over Cyprus.

That was for 2012 and we wait to see the statistics for 2013. So with all these in mind, I can say that we are pleased with the season. [...] As for [this year], things seem to be again positive and we are expecting another good season.

Travel Trade Cyprus: How does the region plan to enrich its tourist product offering and attract new markets?

Lakis Avraamides: As a region, and when I say region, I mean all the municipalities and the villages around, we all work together, as well as on an individual basis to enrich the product. Each municipality has its own developing programme and we work together to implement it.

There are many projects in the pipeline which will enrich the tourist product, but due to the crisis they had to be put aside. Some others are ready to go on provided that we will find investors; like the marinas of Ayia Napa and Protaras, the golf course and the promenade in Ayia Napa.

But what helped the region to increase its occupancies a lot, was the renovation of hotels along the coast, both in Protaras and Ayia Napa. But not only

FEBRUARY 2014

on the coast, even up in the centres of the two towns.

A complete renovation which really enriched the accommodation product of the region.

We know that the majority of the visitors are coming to Cyprus for the sun and the sea. This will never change. But there are too many other kinds of tourist products that we can introduce and attract more tourists; such as religious, wellness, sport, culture, weddings, and we will invest in this kind of tourism.

Lakis Avraamides Manager, Ayia Napa - Protaras - Famagusta Region Tourism Board

Lakis Avraamides: 12 - 14 years ago, Ayia Napa was labelled as a clubbing destination and a resort for the young wild ones. Since then things have changed a lot. The market which labelled Ayia Napa is going down. There is not such a market anymore and the signs are obvious.

Ayia Napa Municipality, with the assistance of the board, which had and has the responsibility to promote the area abroad, spent a lot of time and money to change this concept. And we did it. [However] we want the young ones still, they keep the business alive.

What we want from anyone who is coming to the area is first to respect themselves, the people around them, and the local laws and ethics.

Ayia Napa and the whole region, including Protaras have turned into a family destination. Only 25 percent of the visitors are between 20 - 35 years old.

The rest are mature families. So just from this point, the kind of customers is beneficial. But there is place for everybody. That is why the area is unique. It can combine elderly tourists, families with children, couples, teenagers. [...] As soon as we restore the reputation and the name of Ayia Napa among those who still have a negative image for the resort, then both Ayia Napa and Protaras will benefit.

Travel Trade Cyprus: What are your plans for this year and which are the markets you are going to target?

Now that we have been established in the Russian market and in the other main markets of Cyprus, we will explore other markets. We have been watching for many years, and we, as a region, are the first to believe in this market and we kept it alive for many years, despite the visa and flights problems.

Now that these two problems do not exist anymore, we are expecting that the Ukrainian market will boom in two to three years, and we will be there. The Middle East and the Gulf also have much potential and we are going there, and some of the ex-Soviet Union countries, like Kazakhstan are also on our list.

Travel Trade Cyprus: The board estimates that 80 percent of Ayia Napa visitors are middle-aged families with children. Will the board promote this image further? Do you believe that family tourism will be more beneficial for the destination?

Lakis Avraamides: We are working on the marketing and action plan for [the coming months]. As a tourism board we give more emphasis on marketing and then on the street-level actions.

For this year we are planning to participate in many tourist exhibitions mainly in Russia, Ukraine and Scandinavia. We are going to organise promotional events and at the same time participate in working seminars of tour operators, mainly in Russia, reaching deep in Siberia.

We will help the municipalities and the authorised hotels to promote weddings in the UK and the Russian-speaking countries and for the first time we will go down to the Gulf. We follow the developments and act accordingly.

For example, the introduction of new low-cost airlines to Cyprus and new scheduled flights, will make us turn to the departure countries of these airlines.

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NEWS & EVENTS

Paphos Promoted in the Baltics A delegation of the Pafos Regional Board of Tourism and several local hoteliers visited Vilnius, Lithuania and Riga, Latvia, in order to promote the region through various presentations and workshops in the Baltic countries.

The team, headed by Nasos Hadjigeorgiou, executive manager, Pafos Regional Board of Tourism, held workshops which were attended by over 50 tour operators and travel agents with the participants showing keen interest in Paphos.

This effort is part of the joint actions of operators and businessmen of Paphos, with the support of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation for attracting tourism on a year-round basis, and those countries were chosen due to adequate air connectivity with direct flights between Paphos – Lithuania and Riga – Larnaca.

EVENTS Gastronomia & Horeca Nicosia, Cyprus, February 14 – 17, 2014 (www.csfa.org.cy) The exhibition features hotel, restaurant, and café equipment and catering, addressing the needs of all professionals and businessmen in the food and hospitality sector.

Limassol Carnival Limassol, Cyprus, February 20 – March 2, 2014 (www.limassolmunicipal.com.cy) One of the highlights of the island’s annual calendar, with a vibrant and varied programme for visitors of all ages.

Nicosia at Wedding Show Nicosia Municipality attended the Wedding Show ’14, which was held between November 2 – 3, 2013, at Filoxenia Conference Centre, with its own stand, in a bid to inform locals and tourists for the unique wedding venues provided in the city.

Visitors at the event showed particular interest and offered positive comments regarding the local authority’s choice of locations.

Nicosia Municipality provides unique and special areas for hosting wedding receptions, christenings, and other social events, such as Famagusta Gate, Melina Mercouri Hall, Nicosia Municipal Multipurpose Centre, Myloi Cultural Centre, the municipal swimming pool, the Pallouriotissa old market, and the municipal garden.

A second event was also held in Limassol, between November 9 -10, 2013, at GrandResort hotel and in Paphos the following weekend, November 23 -24, 2013, at InterContinental Aphodite Hills Resort Hotel.

21st International Education Fair Nicosia, Cyprus, February 21 – 23, 2014 (www.csfa.org.cy) Hailed as the largest and most well-established annual event for education on the island which sets a unique platform for targeting the Cypriot and overseas students living in Cyprus who wish to study either locally or abroad.

Wedding Show '14

Cyprus-Israel Regatta Concluded The first leg of the third edition of Cyprus-Israel Regatta 2013 was held successfully at Israel Yacht Club, Larnaca and Zygi Marina, between September 21 - 22, 2013.

22 boats took part amongst which 14 were Israeli, at the event, which was organised by Famagusta District Sailing Club Begafigo.

According to Easy Swissa, president, Israel Yacht Club, the teams were satisfied with the hospitality and the newly renovated facilities of Larnaca Marina, while he also noted that the coastal city’s bay has the best conditions for sailing races worldwide. “The alternating currents, waves and wind make such games interesting and Larnaca has all the requirements to become an excellent destination for organising such international matches,“ Swissa continued.

Dinos Lefkaritis, chairman, Larnaka Tourism Board, stressed, “The comments we receive from foreign athletes and organisers for the ideal conditions of Larnaca for such sports are extremely encouraging.”

Cyprus Sunshine Cup Cyprus, February 27 - March 9, 2014 (www.cyclingcy.com) The competition, which continues to grow in popularity year after year, returns this year with two stages challenging amateur and professional riders from all over the world.

Volkswagen Cyprus Cycling Tour 2014 Cyprus, March 28 – 30, 2014 (www.cyclingcy.com) A three-day road ‘cycling for all’ event where professional and amateur riders will ride shoulder to shoulder.

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