MARCH 2016 - ISSUE 37
02 MARKET UPDATE
10 CYPRUS TOURISM BEATS ALL ODDS
TUI ACQUIRES AEOLOS
12 RYANAIR CONNECTS LARNACA AND BRUSSELS
06 Special Report
14 Accommodation 15 Rendezvous
MARKET UPDATE
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CYPRUS TOURISM BEATS
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
All Odds
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba JOURNALIST Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou Inna Armeanu DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
DESPITE MANY NEGATIVE DEVELOPMENTS, SUCH AS THE CLOSURE OF CYPRUS AIRWAYS AND THE RUSSIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS WHICH ALSO RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF TRANSAERO, 2015 PROVED ONE OF THE BEST YEARS FOR THE CYPRIOT TOURISM INDUSTRY, WITH INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS TOTALLING 2,659,405, UP 8.9 PERCENT YEAR-ON-YEAR.
HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670
EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradecyprus.travel PRINTED IN CYPRUS Cyprinters Ltd P.O. Box 58300, CY-3732, Limassol, Cyprus Tel: +357 25 720035, Fax: +357 25 720123 Email: info@cyprinters.com WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com
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CYPRUS LEADS EU IN FOREIGN ARRIVALS
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 kuka@rmamedia.com
EXCHANGE RATES
as of
24.2.2016
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
1EUR=
US (USD)
Dollar
1.09
UK (GBP)
Pound
0.78
Switzerland (CHF) Franc
1.09
Japan (JPY)
122.94
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Yen
ccording to Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s data, between April – October 2015, the island welcomed 2.28 million travellers, making the season the most successful summer ever for the sector. In addition, the third quarter of 2015 went down in history as the best quarter of any year with 1.17 million visitors.
Kolossi Castle, Limassol
WEBSITE www.traveltradecyprus.travel
Cyprus recorded the second-highest rate in international arrivals among European Union (EU) member states in 2015 with 94 percent of total guest nights across the island registered by non-residents.
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ased on data released by Eurostat, Cyprus was only surpassed by Malta, which witnessed a 96 percent ratio, and the top five was rounded out by Croatia, Greece and Austria. According to the statistical office of the European Union, in 2015, some 14.2 million guest nights were recorded in Cyprus, up 3.2 percent, 13.2 million of which by non-residents. Despite that, demand by locals showed a faster growth rate at 9.6 percent versus the 2.8 percent increase by foreign visitors.
MARCH 2016
MONTHLY NEWS NICOSIA
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Nicosia among Europe’s Best Destinations
Nicosia
Regional Meeting Welcomed in Nicosia
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DID YOU KNOW... In 2015, France’s Bordeaux scooped the prestigious title?
MARCH 2016
icosia played host to the annual assembly of the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM). Local political leaders, including Constantinos Yiorkadjis, major, Nicosia, concluded that practical cooperation at the local level is essential if countries in the Mediterranean are to successfully manage challenges created by the conflicts in Syria and Libya, migration and climate change. The event saw the adoption of eight recommendations and two reports on urban development and access to jobs intended to shape policies approved by the European Union and states in the Mediterranean.
he capital city was selected as one of the most popular tourist hotspots on the continent, ranking 15th on the annual list. For the seventh consecutive year, European Best Destinations selected 20 candidates for the coveted title, with Zadar, Croatia coming out on top, followed by Athens, Greece and Plovdiv, Bulgaria. The organisers highlighted Nicosia’s culturally and historically rich, serene yet cosmopolitan atmosphere as its main competitive advantages, which have helped the Cypriot capital land the 15th position.
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MONTHLY NEWS Limassol Assists Visitors
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imassol Tourism Board supported the installation of seven tourist maps across popular locations in the city. Travellers can now get additional data on Limassol’s hotspots by visiting the Medieval castle square, Limassol Marina, Limassol Port, the Enaerios area and Germasogia. The maps provide information on the destination’s shopping streets, food areas, bicycle rental points, Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s offices, and other useful facts for local and foreign visitors.
www.traveltradecyprus.travel
Housekeepers Association Gathers Members
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yprus Housekeepers Association held its second pan-Cyprian conference, bringing together members, affiliates and local industry stakeholders. The event was hosted by Atlantica Miramare Beach Hotel in Limassol and its main focus was communication and human relations at the workplace. In addition, several associates showcased various techniques and materials related to the profession.
New Look Coming Up for Larnaca
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arnaka Tourism Board is refreshing and renewing the city’s image with a new campaign and slogan for the region centralised around one of its most defining and unique elements, the flamingo. Alongside the campaign, the board’s website also boasts a new look, incorporating even more information about history, attractions, events and news. The new scheme is part of Larnaka Tourism Board’s ongoing efforts to highlight the destination’s charm and ensure that visitors always receive a friendly welcome and a plethora of interesting things to see and do.
Larnaca Reveals New Infrastructure Plans
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Larnaca
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he start of the year brought along major infrastructural improvements that will regenerate dormant areas of the coastal city, increase mobility and open up new places of interest for visitors, Andreas Louroutziatis, mayor, Larnaca, revealed. Home to a variety of significant landmarks, the old area of Agios Ioannis will be upgraded with cobbled streets, a square, park, pavements and parking lots. Moreover, with the ongoing project for the removal of refinery facilities along Dekeleia Road, the master plan of one continuous coastline is how closer to becoming a reality, whilst the beach will also benefit from five breakwaters. Other improvements to Larnaca’s coasts include 16 underground recycling bins at the Foinikoudes and McKenzie areas. Lastly, the city’s old historic market will be brought back to life after its demolition in 1996, a new multipurpose sports centre will be built, and the park in the municipal gardens will be fully upgraded.
MARCH 2016
MONTHLY NEWS
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Paphos among Most Affordable Cities
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ccording to the Holiday Money Report published by Post Office Travel Money, Paphos is among the top 10 cheapest destinations for UK tourists this year. Portugal’s Algarve topped the barometer chart as the most inexpensive city for the first time in five years. With prices down over 18 percent year-on-year, the coastal resort is one of eight European destinations that
dominate the best-value top 10 for the second year running. Registering a similar 18 percent price fall, the Bulgarian resort of Sunny Beach is the runner up. Overall, the report reveals that the cost of tourist staples, including meals and drinks, has dropped in 23 of the 44 key worldwide destinations surveyed.
Paphos
Paphos Strengthens French Ties
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ndreas Demetriades, president, Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, recently met with representatives of the Embassy of France in Athens in order to discuss matters related to the Cypriot tourism industry. Amongst others, the two parties analysed issues such as direct flights between France and Pafos International Airport, cooperation potentials with Pafos2017 and strategic partnerships for the promotion of cruise tourism. Moreover, Demetriades suggested the possibility of attracting investments to the city and the improvement of trade links between the European destination and Paphos.
MARCH 2016
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SPECIAL REPORT
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THE MOMENT OF
Truth
DESPITE HAVING TO DEAL WITH VARIOUS ADVERSITIES, THE CYPRIOT TOURISM SECTOR WAS A WINNER IN 2015. HOTELIERS, HOWEVER, REMAIN UNCERTAIN OF WHAT THIS YEAR WILL BRING. ONE THING IS SURE: DECISIVE ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN.
MARIA KAZELI WRITES
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ndeed, we recorded a nine percent year-on-year increase in tourist arrivals in 2015, however, we still need to be worried about the three percent decline in tourism revenue,” said Haris Loizides, president, Cyprus Hotel Association, summarising the main concern raised by industry stakeholder at the organisation’s recent 38th annual conference. The event, held under the theme Moments of Truth – Aligning Opportunity with Collective Action, alongside the 24th Exhibition of Products & Services, saw a number of speakers examine the country’s competitive advantages and connectivity issues. As one of the keynote speakers, Marios Demetriades, transport, communications and works minister, Cyprus, elaborated on the available opportunities for new air routes and suggested that 2015 was the best year since 2006 for the country in terms of passenger volumes, with 7.6 million travellers passing through the gates of Larnaca and Paphos international airports. He reminded attendees that ever since national carrier Cyprus Airways ceased operations, linking the island to the world has never been more successful. Certain European states, according to Demetriades, are still concerned about protecting their legacy carriers, mainly due to pressure from trade unions, and thus, fail to see the big picture. As he suggested, Cyprus Airways’ closure gave the government the opportunity to support other airlines and offer attractive schemes for those interested in operating to and from the island. Air connectivity is vital for Cyprus and its tourism industry, Demetriades explained, adding that for this very reason various measures have been adopted over the past two years to
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support the sector. These included the fast implementation of an open skies policy, improved incentive schemes in collaboration with Hermes Airports, encouragement and fast examination of applications for local air operator certificates, and the formation of a joint committee by Hermes Airports and Cyprus Tourist Organisation to examine measures for better coordination. In addition, the ministry is currently examining ways to decrease the cost for airlines operating to the nation’s airports and enhance targeted incentive programmes. Interestingly, in 2015, 70 airlines operated to Cyprus with a diversified portfolio of 130 routes across 40 different countries. Out of the overall passenger traffic during the year under review, hub carriers represented a high portion of 43 percent of the total figure, while charter operators were responsible for 18.8 percent of the volumes.
TOP 10 AIR MARKETS IN 2015 Israel 3%
Ukraine 2% Sweden 2.8%
Austria 3.2%
Poland 1.8%
Romania 1.7%
UK 33.3%
Germany 3.4%
Russia 13.2% Greece 17.8%
MARCH 2016
www.traveltradecyprus.travel
SPECIAL REPORT Top 10 Airlines Serving Cyprus in 2015 Thomas Cook Airlines 4%
In his presentation, Overcoming Seasonality in Tourism: Limits and Challenges – a blueprint for Crete, Aris Ikkos, research director, INSETE, explained that seasonality is a worldwide phenomenon, that, however, mostly affects European destinations as the continent promotes sun and beach as the main assets; expectedly this distinction influences islands, including Cyprus, in the Mediterranean area. According to Ikkos, seasonality can be overcome only once European countries move away from the fixed ideas linking them to the concept of sun and sea. Marketing a destination with the same product proposition will not have the desired results, he stressed. Along the same lines, Constantinos Petrides, undersecretary to the president, Cyprus, focussed on the compilation of a national strategy, analysing the government’s vision for a new model in tourism development. As Petrides explained, the regulations governing the operation of hotels as well as food and beverage venues – including the way of accommodation establishments are categorised – is distorting. “The regulatory framework should encourage product diversification and reward the flexibility and imagination of the entrepreneur who knows better how to serve the modern and diverse needs of a consumer, rather than promoting product uniformity,” supported Petrides.
Jet2.com 2.7% AEGEAN Airlines 13.4%
Monarch 2.7%
Wizz Air 3.6%
British Airways 4.1%
Ryanair 9.3%
Thomson Airways 8.1%
Transaero 8.6%
easyJet 9.3%
Cyprus has a long history of tourism and has been known and active in the industry as early as in the 1920s, Loizides posited, adding that over this long stretch of time, there have been a few challenging moments. The industry has greatly benefitted from impermanent circumstances and stakeholders have failed to utilise the favourable conditions with the right vision and proper planning. “Perhaps this was the main reason we had big ups and downs in our tourism performance. Despite the fact that our economy has always been largely based on tourism, in only a very few cases were we able to work creatively and deal with the sector’s problems,” Loizides continued. He supported that the past shows the way forward and therefore caution needs to be exercised for this and future years in order to prove successful. “It is a fact that negative developments in competitive destinations work in our favour, but on the other hand, they exert pressure on our pricing policies,” he added. The conference concluded on a positive note but with participants expressing the realisation that it is high time for tourism players to take their role seriously and invest in the sector to achieve the best possible outcome.
MARCH 2016
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MONTHLY NEWS NICHE TOURISM
Halal and Kosher Certification Seminar Held
CTO: Positive Outlook for Sports Travel
Seminar on Halal and Kosher certification
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xperts of the field from various sectors attended the island’s first seminar on Halal and Kosher certification. Organised by World Trade Center Cyprus under the tagline Entrance passport of Cypriot products in new markets, the event, which took place at Atlantica Miramare Hotel in Limassol, attracted directors of quality control and assurance, export managers, as well as food and beverage representatives and chefs of local hotels and restaurants. Thomas Vassaras, CEO, Greekexports, the official representative of Halal Certification Services, UBM and Halal Expo Europe, acted as facilitator, sharing valuable knowledge with attendees.
www.traveltradecyprus.travel
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yprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) deems this year to be a good one for athletic tourism as many football teams chose the island for their winter training sessions. The authority received over 120 applications from football, swimming, biking and other groups. Consequently, more than 3,500 athletes are expected to visit Cyprus for sports, resulting in 40,000 overnight stays for the island. CTO is also actively supporting a grants scheme that sponsors the improvement or creation of sports facilities. To date, this initiative has benefitted many local agents including the municipalities of Larnaca, Geroskipou and Ayia Napa.
Limassol Marathon GSO
Limassol Marathon: Record Participation on the Horizon
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imassol is gearing up to host its best organised running event yet with this year’s edition of the OPAP Limassol Marathon GSO expected to attract the highest-ever number of contestants in its 10-year history. Every year, the competition welcomes some 10,000 athletes and running enthusiasts from over 50 countries and thanks to its growing global recognition, the marathon, which will take place on April 10, is set to witness a record participation from foreign destinations and a sold-out corporate team race. The event will once again be open for runners of all ages and levels, with a marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km, 5km corporate and 1km kids stages.
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MARCH 2016
MONTHLY NEWS AGENTS
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TUI Acquires Aeolos
TUI Group headquarters
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erman company TUI Group now owns 100 percent of Aeolos Travel. The Cyprus-based tour operator was previously a private limited partnership between the two shareholders, TUI Travel and Francoudi & Stephanou, and operated in a broad spectrum of inbound, outbound and online tourism fields with offices across the island, as well as Malta and Lebanon. Commenting on the successful closing of 2015 and future ambitions, Fritz Joussen, CEO, TUI Group, said that the company’s integrated business model and new structures have strengthened the group and accelerated growth, a sign that TUI heads to the right direction. “With the support of our 76,000 employees in 130 countries, we […] delivered growth despite various geopolitical challenges. We have delivered on our promises, outperforming our ambitious targets,” he concluded.
Let’s Go Tours Unveils Caribbean Holidays
Punta Cana
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et’s Go Tours by Amathus will collaborate with WAMOS Tours, one of Spain’s largest tour operators to offer trips to the Caribbean. As a result of the partnership, starting November 01, Let’s Go Tours by Amathus’ customers will be able to choose from nine-day all-inclusive holiday packages to Cancun, Mexico and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. The deals include return air tickers from Larnaca to Cancun or Punta Cana via Madrid, one night stay at the Spanish capital and seven nights at any of the two destinations.
MARCH 2016
MONTHLY NEWS NAUTICAL
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Limassol Port Commercialisation on Track
Limassol Port
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ollowing the successful launch of the tender and an intensive round of due diligence and consultations with the port operator candidates, the milestone project of Limassol Port’s commercialisation remains on track, and is expected to be completed by the end of the first quarter. The development is expected to bring significant benefits to the Cypriot economy as it is an opportunity for modernisation and transformation of the facility to a strategic and efficient transportation hub in the Mediterranean. Under the new regime, the Cyprus Port Authority will turn from port owner and operator to a landlord and independent regulator.
Celestyal Remains Committed to Cyprus
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elestyal Cruises recently reviewed its 2015 performance across all its markets and announced plans for this year and beyond. The company registered a 20 percent year-on-year increase in passengers transported, with 129,731 travellers carried onboard and a total of 516,000 overnight stays. Marios Shekeris, head of sales, Cyprus, Celestyal Cruises, reaffirmed the line’s commitment to the country as it remains one of its most important European markets, and referred to the growth of Celestyal Cruises’ sales network locally, as well as the new options offered to Cypriot travellers. In addition, Salomi Pnevmatikou, marketing director, Celestyal Cruises, highlighted the company’s investment in the overall improvement of the guest experience – both onboard its ships and on its shore excursions – which is based on four pillars: wine, gastronomy, culture and entertainment.
MARCH 2016
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MONTHLY NEWS AIR
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Ryanair and Hermes Airports celebrated the new service
Ryanair Inaugurates Larnaca – Brussels Route
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ow-cost carrier, Ryanair returned to Larnaka International Airport with a twice-weekly service from Cyprus’ main hub to Brussels Airport. The airline already operates flights from Paphos to Brussels South Charleroi Airport, and as Chiara Ravara, sales and marketing manager, Eastern Mediterranean, Ryanair, explained, the new itinerary aims to offer even more possibilities to Cypriot customers to discover the wonders of Belgium. Wes Porter, CEO, Hermes Airports, added, “We believe there is excellent potential for the new route. Through strategic planning and branding, the Larnaca – Brussels route could become one of the favourite routes for business and leisure purposes for thousands of travellers, both Cypriots and Central Europeans.”
Larnaca Fuels AEGEAN's Success
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aving carried 11,650,374 travellers in 2015, AEGEAN Airlines saw a 15 percent year-on-year growth in passenger numbers, with the carrier’s Larnaca base contributing significantly to the increase, along with the company’s Greek locations. The majority of customers used Athens International Airport with the figure there exceeding nine million. The largest share of the surge derived from AEGEAN Airlines’ international network due to the carrier’s investment in new destinations, resulting in a 24 percent growth in offering. Dimitris Gerogiannis, CEO, AEGEAN Airlines, commented, “We are obviously hoping for stability, which will allow foreign visitors to flow into our country, and the state to proceed, either itself or by providing concessions to investors, to all necessary upgrading, building of infrastructure, and establishment of regulators in the aviation sector.”
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MARCH 2016
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MONTHLY NEWS AIR
Blue Air Gains IATA Certificate
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omanian carrier, Blue Air is now a full member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) after successfully passing the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA). The programme, an internationally recognised and accepted evaluation system designed to assess the operational management and control systems of an airline, inspected Blue Air’s overall operations, operational control and flight departures, aircraft maintenance, cabin procedures, ground handling, freight and security management. Notably, the total accident rate for IOSA carriers in 2013 was 2.5 times lower than that of non-IOSA operators.
Gulf Air Appoints New Cargo Agent
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A.P. Vassilopoulos GSA Services is now Gulf Air’s official cargo general sales agent in Cyprus. The company will handle the Middle Eastern airline’s air freight which encompasses a variety of products; from dangerous goods to live animals and from perishable load to general cargo. The national carrier of Bahrain commenced operations in 1950, becoming one of the first commercial airlines to be established in the Middle East. Today, Gulf Air is a major international entity serving 43 cities in 24 countries spanning three continents.
Top Kinisis Teams Up with Blue Air
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new strategic collaboration was announced between Top Kinisis Travel and Romanian low-cost carrier, Blue Air. The Cyprus-based tour operator chartered flights for the long weekend breaks coming up at the end of March and beginning of April, to Budapest. Moreover, it secured services to the Greek destinations of Mykonos, Corfu and Alexandroupolis for the Orthodox Easter holiday in May. Established in 1987, Top Kinisis Travel is one of the most prominent tourism companies on the island. Listed in the Cyprus Stock Exchange since 2001, it provides a complete range of travel services in the country and abroad.
MARCH 2016
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MONTHLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Melissi Beach Hotel
Melissi Beach Hotel to Wow Guests
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fter an extensive renovation completed two years ago – which saw the addition of brand new rooms and the refurbishment of public areas – Melissi Beach Hotel is now undergoing further enhancements. The Ayia Napa-based property is receiving another facelift with improvements to all guestrooms and apartments, landscaping of gardens, the introduction of an adults pool with running waters and swim up bar, modernisation of existing pool bar, as well as the addition of a fully-equipped modern spa and gym. With renovation works expected to be completed by April 15, the hotel will reopen for the summer season offering Wi-Fi free of charge in all rooms and public areas.
The King Jason Collection Arrives
TripAdvisor Users Recognise Louis Hotels
Columbia Rebrands Children’s Club
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C Louis Ledra Beach
ouis Hotels marked the official launch of The King Jason Collection, presenting a state-of-the-art website which features rich content, including information on the brand’s ethos, values, signature elements and the guest experiences. In addition, the company also introduced the individual websites of its two hotels under the brand, The King Jason Paphos and The King Jason Protaras, which describe all the facilities and amenities available to visitors as of this month. Louis Hotels has timed the upgrade to the opening of the Protaras property, to reinvigorate The King Jason Collection standards and offer guests better services this summer, such as free beach bags, Wi-Fi, electronic safes and toiletries.
olumbia Hotels & Resorts launched a new identity for its Sailors Kids Club. Now the younger guests of Columbia Beach Hotel and Columbia Beach Resort are welcomed at Columbia Cubs Club. “Further to being used as a means to excite children’s imagination and sense of wonder in an otherwise exotic and exclusive location, many parents rely heavily on there being a comprehensive children’s club available to keep their little ones entertained, thus facilitating some much-needed relaxation,” commented Anthea Vikis, marketing manager, Columbia Hotels & Resorts. To accompany the refreshed logo, Columbia Cubs Club has also welcomed a new mascot, a little brown bear.
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The King Jason Paphos
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hree properties in Paphos under Louis Hotels received accolades from TripAdvisor’s Traveler’s Choice Awards. Louis Ledra Beach and Louis Imperial Beach earned the recognition having ranked ninth and 20th, respectively, among the overall 25 best properties in Cyprus. Additionally, The King Jason Paphos once again won two awards as the top hotel overall and the second best for service on the island.
MARCH 2016
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RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with
If you look from the perspective of independent restaurant and bar owners in Paphos, the government and Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) are generally considered to be the main perpetrators for allowing all-inclusive tourism to thrive in the area. As a result, many businesses have shut down completely, and during the winter months Paphos feels almost abandoned. […]
MAHBIR THUKRAL CEO, CYINS OF CREATIVITY
AIMING TO ENABLE LEADING INDUSTRIES IN CYPRUS TO GENERATE INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, MAHBIR THUKRAL, CEO, CYINS OF CREATIVITY, SUGGESTS WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE IN PAPHOS’ – AND CYPRUS’ – TOURISM INDUSTRY.
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: In late 2015, Cyins of Creativity, in collaboration with Pafos2017, held an interactive seminar focussing on Cyprus’ tourism industry. What were the main outcomes of the initiative? MAHBIR THUKRAL: […] These seminars were an experiment for us […] because even though there are a lot of activities in Cyprus centred around entrepreneurship and start-up culture, these were the first ones which actually enabled the creative and cultural industries in Cyprus to demonstrate why and how these industries bring commercial value to other sectors. Furthermore, we wanted to open up the discussion on how the private sector in the leisure and tourism industry could take matters into its own hands. […] MARCH 2016
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: How can tourism industry professionals collaborate with Pafos2017? MAHBIR THUKRAL: […] Pafos2017 needs to devise a cohesive commercialisation strategy, and [...] it is in the hands of the board members and the politicians. […] Following the seminars, one initiative which Cyins of Creativity has presented to the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism is the creation of government-authorised local art and design stores, which are positioned inside all-inclusive hotel resorts. With the hotel providing lucrative retail space, holidaymakers can purchase souvenirs and gifts which have all been designed and accredited locally, thus, supporting domestic creative and cultural entrepreneurship. To reimburse the hotel resorts for providing the retail space, they would receive a commission for each sale. [...] Other ideas for how the leisure and tourism industry could engage with Pafos2017 and its remit include the formulation of special Pafos2017 accredited menu items in local restaurants and bars, cultural programming being performed inside hotel resorts, which, to a degree, are environments even locals do not visit very often themselves, and for all Cypriot food and drink exports to carry the Pafos2017 logo on its packaging. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: What are the main obstacles Paphos is facing? MAHBIR THUKRAL: […] Without a doubt, Paphos has allowed itself to become almost entirely reliant on allinclusive tourism, and with that comes a season that starts and eventually finishes. […] More needs to be done by all stakeholders in order to stimulate new tourism products, demographics and markets to Paphos and to Cyprus. The
all-inclusive proposition does not differ greatly from neighbouring destinations, which also tend to be cheaper [...]. A new marina in Paphos will not necessarily bring the same results as it has done in Limassol, due to the fact that as shown in the UAE, if the same model is copied multiple times within a close physical proximity, all parties will eventually be hindered due to lack of product and service diversity within that proximity. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: In the years that you have been cooperating with
Paphos
Paphos’ stakeholders, what views did you hear? MAHBIR THUKRAL: […] The general consensus is an ever-increasing anxiety about what the future holds. Holidaymakers visiting Cyprus regularly are not afraid to express their shock horror at the steady increase in prices, and when compared to other destinations in the region, the overall degradation of service delivery and quality across the board. From the perspective of local restaurant and bar owners, having witnessed their neighbours closing the shutters for good, naturally they are worried that they will be next. Another area of concern is the growing influence that major tour operators such as TUI and Thomas Cook are having especially on the infrastructure of all-inclusive tourism in Paphos. With their own travel agencies, airplanes and tour guides, , the next step is to take ownership of the properties themselves. Such operators have made significant investment in this area in recent years. Will a time come when tour operators will not need the cooperation of Cypriots in order to create, sell and operate holidays in Cyprus on their own terms? […]
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“Celestyal Cruises is now the smart holiday option, as we are the only cruise line that can transport its passengers to so many destinations across the Aegean in just three to four days with the opportunity to combine these shorter cruises with terrestrial stays. In addition to our beautiful destinations, our passengers also enjoy exceptional hospitality, authentic Greek food, wine and entertainment.”
CHIARA RAVARA has taken over as Ryanair’s sales and marketing manager for the Eastern Mediterranean, where she will oversee the low-cost carrier’s marketing activities in Cyprus, Greece, Croatia, Malta and Montenegro. Ravara joins the company at an exciting time as the airline aims to continue growing strongly in the region, with plans for extensive expansion, digital enhancements and steady customer service experience improvements in the Eastern Mediterranean. She has worked with Ryanair for the past two years in the post of sales and marketing executive for Italy, Greece and Croatia. Prior to that, Ravara had held the position of public relations and marketing manager for AVIAREPS in Milan, where she was in charge of a number of travel industry accounts.
PRESIDENT, CYPRUS HOTEL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION (CYHMA)
www.traveltradecyprus.travel
VASSOS KILANIS
Our passengers also enjoy exceptional hospitality
KONSTANTINOS TZEVELEKOS
CHIARA RAVARA
MARKETING DIRECTOR, CELESTYAL CRUISES
SALOMI PNEVMATIKOU
TRAVEL TALK & WHO’S MOVED
We demand CYHMA to be involved in procedures dealing with policy formulation
“CYHMA can directly support any actions directed towards upgrading both the hotel industry and tourism in general. [...] In order to lay the foundations for a long-term and proper strategy, the participation of people who are at the forefront of tourism is paramount. That is why we demand CYHMA to be actively involved in all procedures dealing with policy formulation concerning the island’s tourism future.”
KONSTANTINOS TZEVELEKOS has been appointed general manager for Lufthansa Group in Cyprus and Greece. Tzevelekos will head the company’s Athens office and will be responsible for all aspects of sales, marketing and representation of the German company in both countries. Having worked for Lufthansa Group since 1992, he has risen through the ranks and held numerous managerial positions, garnering valuable skills in almost every department, including ground handling, operations, cargo and customer service. Since 2010, Tzevelekos has been the regional sales manager for Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines, leading a team of account managers in both Greece and Cyprus. He succeeds Harro Julius Petersen, who retired at the end of January.
MARCH 2016
TRAVEL TALK
MAYOR, NICOSIA
The event has put the capital on the world map
“It is our great pleasure to have hosted the first Nicosia International Youth Football Cup […]. Through this great initiative, which aims to become an annual fixture, Nicosia and its surrounding areas welcomed international soccer teams and a significant number of visitors who stayed and moved around our city. We have undoubtedly achieved great exposure and promotion for Nicosia. The event has put the capital on the world map for sports and winter tourism.”
SALLI FELTON
CONSTANTINOS YIORKADJIS
www.traveltradecyprus.travel
CEO, THE TRAVEL FOUNDATION
Measuring Tourism’s Impact is the first study of its kind “We are thrilled that our work [where we commissioned PwC to apply its Total Impact Measurement & Management methodology to TUI Group’s operations, focussing on eight hotels accommodating 60,000 customers in Cyprus in 2013] has been recognised in the innovation category [of The World Travel and Tourism Council’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2016]. Measuring Tourism’s Impact is the first study of its kind in the industry, and we are pleased to be the driving force behind such pioneering research.”
CEO, CYINS OF CREATIVITY
MAHBIR THUKRAL
Paphos does present opportunities “The well-built up infrastructure in Paphos does present opportunities for developing novel tourism products exclusively for new and undermaximised markets such as China, India and Japan. But these tourists also have no intention of lying on a sun bed for hours and days on end, and if they are paying the premium to come to Cyprus, naturally they want to be treated like royalty. […] If Paphos is going to succeed in adapting its offering for these undermaximised markets, it is also imperative that all steps of the service delivery chain are reviewed.”
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MARCH 2016
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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AKAMAS BECOMES NATIONAL FOREST PARK
Akamas
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icos Kouyialis, agriculture, rural development and environment minister, Cyprus, confirmed the approval of a plan to turn the Akamas Peninsula into a protected national forest park. The main aim is to safeguard nature and biodiversity in the area, thus, promoting sustainable development of the whole
region, according to Kouyialis. All of the Akamas Peninsula is part of European Union’s Natura 2000, a network of core breeding and resting sites for threatened species, and rare natural habitat types which are protected in their own right. Overall, 28 percent of Cypriot land is part of the Natura 2000 prorgamme.
A THOUSAND MILES OF TASTES IN LIMASSOL
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opular Greek TV show, A Thousand Miles of Tastes, recently visited Limassol in order to present viewers the Cypriot gastronomy, tourist sites, the natural beauty and the local culture. Limassol Tourism Board, in cooperation with the Cypriot embassy in Athens, played host to the crew and presenter, chef Vangelis Driskas. The two hourly sessions showcased the production of commandaria at the traditional museum in Zoopigi, the preparation of a true Cypriot meal at Asgata village and local gourmet cuisine at a popular restaurant in the city.
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PHOTO ALBUM
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Interorient Shipmanagement donated funds to enhance Limassol Municipality's social work
Poseidonia Beach Hotel travelled to Lebanon to attract tourists looking to get married in Cyprus
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
Issa Ohanian was named the new executive chef of Forest Park Hotel in Platres
Send your photos to editorial@traveltradecyprus.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Winter cultural celebrations continue in Ayia Napa
MARCH 2016
Aphrodite Hills Resort’s happy new members of the Dream Team Soccer Academy
Meditteranean Beach Hotel welcomed famous Greek singer Giorgos Tsalikis
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS
TAXIDI EXHIBITION ON TRACK
AS YOU LIKE IT Nicosia March 29 www.thoc.org.cy Shakespeare’s comedy of love and change comes to the national theatre for the first time in over 30 years, with Rosalie Craig as Rosalind.
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he registration process for TAXIDI exhibition is underway as interest for the event grows day by day, according to the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents. The annual international tourism gathering, which has been running for the past 18 consecutive years, attracts thousands of visitors. It has established itself as a useful institution for local travellers who seek tourism information pertaining to travel packages and overall decision making, not only for their summer holidays, but also for future trips.
DRAMA’S FILM FESTIVAL COMES TO CYPRUS
LIMASSOL MARATHON GSO Limassol April 10 www.limassolmarathon.com A special year for the marathon as it will celebrate its 10-year anniversary, with 2015’s event having hosted 10,000 runners and thousands of spectators.
16TH INTERNATIONAL PHAROS CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
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he awarded movies of Drama Short Film Festival 2015, one of Greece’s leading short film events, travelled to Cyprus. Organised by the Ministry of Education and Culture and Rialto Theatre, in collaboration with Nicosia Friends of Cinema Society, Paphos Friends of Cinema Society, Limassol Cine Club and Larnaca – Famagusta Cine Club, the festival was held between February 01 – 04 and visited all four cities. Amongst other locations, Drama Short Film Festival also took place in Germany, Egypt, Serbia and Italy.
Nicosia May 01 – June 30 pharosartsfoundation.org The organiser, Pharos Arts Foundation aims to promote artistic excellence by bringing audiences in contact with some of the most exciting and talented musicians of the Cypriot and international scene.
CULTURAL FESTIVAL IN AUTUMN
ROSE FESTIVAL Agros, Limassol May 13 – 20 www.agros.org.cy During the festival, visitors will have the chance to participate in the local workshops and learn all about the distillation of roses.
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he Ministry of Education and Culture announced that the KYPRIA festival will be held in September and October. The event, which will last more than a month, aims to present high-quality happenings focussing on stage arts, like music, dance, theatre, opera or a combination of these. The programme includes a special provision for integration of performances for children. Since its inception in 1993, KYPRIA presented Cypriots and visitors with a variety of events. Having been launched in a period characterised by a lack of important cultural programmes, it is hailed as the catalyst for the creation of a cultural movement which gives audiences a plethora of choices.
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