JUNE 2016 - ISSUE 40
11 AIR
07 AYIA NAPA MARINA GETS GREEN LIGHT
ALITALIA OPENS ROME – LARNACA ROUTE
09 MEDIEVAL THEME PARK IN LIMASSOL
08 Industry News
14 Accommodation 18 Travel Channels
MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
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WINTER ARRIVALS DRIVE POSITIVE OUTLOOK
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITORS Rita Kasziba Maria Kazeli JOURNALIST Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis 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 103670 WEBSITE www.traveltradecyprus.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.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
With the island having welcomed 137,013 travellers in March, registering a 40.6 percent increase over the same month in 2015, prospects remain good for the year.
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he growth comes on the heels of a satisfactory winter season, as between November 2015 and this March, some 438,000 tourists entered Cyprus, recording a 33.4 percent year-on-year surge. Compared to respective periods, the six-month results are the best of the last decade. Additionally, in the first quarter of this year, visitor arrivals witnessed a year-on-year boost of 32.4 percent as almost all source markets presented positive changes.
WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com
SALAMIS BOOSTS PROFITS
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 kuka@rmamedia.com
Salamis Filoxenia
Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456 david@simpson-media.com
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Salamis Tours’ turnover touched EUR36.49 million in 2015.
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he company’s gross profit reached EUR11.46 million, registering a EUR2.92 million increase over 2014. The growth was mainly attributed to the reduction of operating expenses. Moreover, operating profit surged to EUR5.4 million from EUR2.47 million, while net profit for the year totalled EUR5.61 million, up from EUR2.48 million in 2014.
JUNE 2016
MONTHLY NEWS
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EC Puts Cyprus’ Tourism under the Microscope
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ollowing Cyprus’ completion of the financial adjustment programme in March, the European Commission (EC) issued a country report which featured in-depth reviews examining the existence and nature of possible imbalances, including concerns in the tourism field. In the document, the authority suggests that the declining tourism revenue is responsible for most of the falling share of service exports in GDP. Although the sector is one of the main economic activities in the country, tourism receipts as a ratio to value added have declined and while exports of travel services accounted for nearly 20 percent of GDP in 2001, the share fell to around 10 percent in 2008. Over that period, Cyprus managed to attract tourists with a higher average spending per day, however, weak developments in arrivals weighed on the overall income generated by the sector.
Tourism Expo Gathers Travellers
Nicosia to Up its Appeal
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JUNE 2016
Nicosia
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he Cypriot capital’s centre will receive a boost after the municipality, in collaboration with governmental authorities met to discuss the city’s future potential and come up with an area plan. The goal of the strategy is to address the lack of activities and the existence of many unused buildings and plots to lure investment which will make the downtown more competitive and attractive. Among more, the venture aims to turn Nicosia into a destination ideal for visitors to be entertained, boasting nightlife options and day-to-day experiences.
DID YOU KNOW... The first walls surrounding Nicosia in the 14th century were built by the Franks?
he Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) joined hands with Cyprus Tourism Organisation, Bank of Cyprus and Display Art to present the 19th edition of TAXIDI exhibition. Held at Filoxenia Conference Centre, the annual event attracted local and international travel agents, tour operators, airlines, hotels, tourist resorts and many other industry experts who exhibited their products and services over three consecutive days. The gathering attracted more than 10,000 visitors. During the exhibition, Aviation & Travel Training Center presented a seminar on ways to combat the fear of flying. Moreover, Bank of Cyprus offered attendees the chance to win a holiday package to Rio de Janeiro to experience the Olympic Games first hand.
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MONTHLY NEWS
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Iran Welcomed CTO
or the third consecutive year, Ayia Napa Municipality organised a tourism conference inviting academics and industry professionals to discuss various matters pertaining to the sector. Held at Nissi Beach Resort under the theme The Branding of Ayia Napa, the event aimed to underline the importance of branding to enhance the destination’s identity and to suggest ways to face competition. Moreover, other goals encompassed recognising the town’s potential and engaging locals in efforts related to the promotion of its uniqueness as a tourist location. Speakers included Anna Farmaki, lecturer, tourism management, Cyprus University of Technology; Prokopis Christou, lecturer, hospitality and tourism management, UCLan Cyprus; and Manolis Psarros, managing director, Toposophy, a destination marketing agency.
Cypriot delegation with Iranian partners
Speakers at the conference
Ayia Napa Branding in the Spotlight
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anagement members of Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), government officials, tour operators and airline representatives visited Tehran in order to explore the destination’s tourism potentials. Led by Angelos Loizou, chairman, CTO, the delegation met with Masoud Soltanifar, head, Iran Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization and discussed ways of developing collaboration between the countries, as after the lift of sanctions the Middle Eastern destination seeks to improve its services and tourism infrastructure. The prospect to have Cyprus linked to Iran by Blue Air sparked the interest of many local operators who expressed the wish to include the Mediterranean country in their holiday packages.
CHA Backs Local Industry
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yprus Hotel Association (CHA) continues to offer its support to the domestic tourism segment by presenting travellers with favourable prices across several of its member properties in Cyprus. The entity prepared a catalogue featuring rates of 110 establishments, including hotels, serviced apartments and tourist villages. The initiative is supported by Cyprus Tourism Organisation and Bank of Cyprus.
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MONTHLY NEWS
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Cyprus Visa Hub Now in Abu Dhabi
R Launch of the centre
esidents of the UAE can now apply for visas to Cyprus at a new visa application centre launched by VFS Global in Abu Dhabi. Inaugurated by Vasilis Polemitis, ambassador to the UAE, Cyprus, the facility is the second to open in the Arab country following Dubai.
“Our aim is to offer a substantially better service level for Cyprus visa applicants throughout the UAE by offering increased accessibility and shorter handling times. We are hopeful that extending this service to Abu Dhabi, a crucial economic and travel hub, will further increase our exchange with this very important country,� said Polemitis.
Visa Centre Opens in China
Beijing
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he Embassy of Cyprus in Beijing entered into an agreement with TLScontact to launch visa application centres in China. The deal saw the opening of the first facility in the Chinese capital in April and the introduction of a relevant website through which travellers can book appointments to submit their documentation in order to obtain their visa to visit the Mediterranean island. The centre is also eligible to handle visa requests from residents of other Asian countries such as Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia and Cambodia.
DID YOU KNOW... Known as the Forbidden City, Beijing is the third most populous city in the world?
JUNE 2016
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MONTHLY NEWS
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Ayia Napa Honours Loyal Visitors
Paphos Lures Eastern European Travellers
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Larsen (left) received her award
n a bid to promote the coastal destination, Pafos Regional Board of Tourism, accompanied by local industry members, travelled to Poland to participate in workshops organised by Cyprus Tourism Organisation. The delegation covered the Polish cities of Warsaw, Katowice and Poznan where meetings were held for some 150 professionals showcasing Paphos as the ideal getaway location. In 2015, visitors from the European country rose 49 percent year-on-year to 43,000. The board also visited Kiev for a presentation as the Ukrainian market has also played an important role in the growth of Paphos’ tourism sector over the past few years, according to Pafos Regional Board of Tourism’s data. A testament to this is the April launch of the first charter flights linking Kiev to the Cypriot city.
Limassol Marina in a Nutshell
Kiev
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yia Napa Municipality acknowledged a repeat traveller to the city as its tourism ambassador. Ever since she first stepped foot on the island in 1984, Aina Elisabeth Vistnes Larsen from Norway has visited the destination 56 times. Yiannis Karousos, mayor, Ayia Napa, rewarded Larsen’s loyalty by presenting her with a honorary plaque at a small ceremony held at the municipality hall. Larsen commented that the city is very different from when she first experienced it, yet, every time she comes to the country, she feels happy and safe.
Ayia Napa Waterfront Restored
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E Limassol Marina
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xpected to cost around EUR6.5 million, Ayia Napa’s beachfront renovation project has launched. The development will include the creation of pedestrian and cycling routes, playgrounds, docks, squares, beach volley and beach soccer fields and a skate park, among more. The first phase of the overhaul is estimated to cost EUR3.5 million.
The project’s rendering
imassol Marina created a short video titled Living on the Sea to celebrate the destination’s continuous evolution over the past year, which saw the delivery of Peninsula Villas, which provide private berths or direct access to the beach. The footage showcased Cyprus’ credentials as an ideal seaside location as well as Limassol Marina’s offering, including the yachting, dining and shopping facilities, the spa and fitness club, and the nearby cultural centre.
JUNE 2016
MONTHLY NEWS NAUTICAL
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Ayia Napa Marina Gets Green Light
Ayia Napa Marina
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he highly-anticipated commencement of construction works for the development of Ayia Napa Marina is a step closer, following the approval of a revised permit from Cyprus’ Department of Town Planning and Housing. The consent authorises additional upgrades to the existing planning and construction works are expected to begin soon. The positive step was the subject of discussion in a meeting between Yiannis Karousos, mayor, Ayia Napa, and representatives of Μ.Μ. Makronisos Marina, the investment company leading the venture. “Along with other projects that we are promoting, we are confident that the marina will give a huge boost to the region and the municipality of Ayia Napa, as it will have a positive multiplier impact on the local economy, strengthening businesses and creating new job opportunities,” commented Karousos. The marina’s launch is now very near, noted Stavros Caramondanis, CEO, Μ.Μ. Makronisos Marina, adding that the development is a testament to the hard work and meticulous planning as well as to the excellent cooperation between the private and public sectors.
Celestyal Unveils New Slogan
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elestyal Cruises launched its new tagline Be Different. Live the Authentic which will accompany the line’s logo. The step aims to reflect the genuine feeling said to be presented by the company’s cruises to the Greek islands and Cuba. “Celestyal Cruises continues to be a pioneer, offering passengers authentic experiences in every location we visit. Our new message clearly communicates that we are different from any other competitor. We invite travellers to come onboard; to be different and live the authentic,” commented Kyriakos Anastassiadis, CEO, Celestyal Cruises.
Celestyal Crystal
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MONTHLY NEWS INDUSTRY
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CTO to Improve Taxi Experience
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n accord with the authority’s efforts to educate all front-line professionals in the tourism industry, Annita Demetriadou, deputy director general, Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), held a meeting with the Association of Taxi Owners and Drivers, where parties discussed ways to improve services offered to incoming visitors. CTO is committed to provide an additional round of training sessions to the sector, while drivers agreed to implement all programmes as suggested by the organisation.
Elpis Continues Educating Industry Members
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n a bid to improve the country’s industry, Elpis Tourism & Hospitality Seminars held training sessions for housekeeping and front office employees at Laura Beach Hotel in Paphos. “Tourism industry stakeholders have started realising the need to educate staff in order to be able to offer a professional level of service to visitors. Only education, good product and a hotelier with goals can lead a business to success,” supported Michael Demosthenous, managing director, Elpis Tourism & Hospitality Seminars.
Participants in the seminars
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JUNE 2016
MONTHLY NEWS
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Medieval Theme Park in Limassol
Venus Gardens Becomes Popular
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eptos Estates revealed that Leptos Venus Gardens is the company’s top selling project in Paphos this year. The development’s hilltop homes boast a contemporary design with distinct Mediterranean features, and all living areas have direct access to large verandas, terraces and gardens which surround the properties. Leptos Venus Gardens is a luxury gated community offering large green areas, two communal swimming pools, a clubhouse as well as a tennis court, and is located close to high-end hotels and beach promenades, holiday attractions, the town centre and old historic monuments.
Leptos Venus Gardens
imassol boasts a new attraction with Cyprus Land having just opened its doors in Germasoyia. Operational seven days a week, the medievalthemed park hosts a village where visitors can marvel at a 3D island model and listen to an audio guide that talks them through the history and legends of the country during medieval times. Moreover, adults and children can learn about a range of ancient crafts and goods, from making pottery to mosaics, and take souvenirs home.
Louis Partners with Pafos2017
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ouis Hotels will play its own role in promoting Paphos’ cultural heritage sites as the company will act as a gold hospitality sponsor to Pafos2017 - European Capital of Culture. The title is designated by the European Union to cities across the continent for a period of one year during which a destination is given the opportunity to highlight the importance of cultural development, to involve citizens and creators in this process and to promote its European identity.
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MONTHLY NEWS NICHE TOURISM
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Paphos Wineries Continue in Unison
Larnaca Welcomes Tennis Aficionados
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ummarising its achievements over its first year of operation, Paphos Wineries Association management underlined that the gathering of nearly all of the district’s wineries under one umbrella is a testament to the body’s invaluable role. Enjoying the support of Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the association aims to continue its actions focussing on the development of the sector, the upgrading of the production process and the promotion of Cypriot wine products.
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he Larnaca Tennis Club hosted the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Cyprus Seniors Cup. The global championship is held annually in the coastal city, though this year was the first time it took place as a Grade 2 competition. Welcoming more than 150 participants from various countries, the event gave a boost to the destination’s tourism industry with Larnaka Tourism Board being among the sponsors. Professional tennis player Fotis Vazeos commented that he has been visiting the island for the past six years as Cyprus boasts the ideal climate allowing champions to give their best performance.
Famagusta Honours Local Wine
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P Craiova
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he Wine Club of Famagusta in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, held its sixth presentation fair of Cypriot wines in Paralimni. The event, which gathered some 40 wineries from across the island, was open and free to enter for the public and included complimentary wine tastings. Visitors also had the opportunity to have their collectible wine glass engraved onsite.
PCCI Supports Crafts
aphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) participated in the second meeting of the European programme Erasmus + Open Educational Resources for Arts and Crafts-CRAFT, which took place in the Romanian city of Craiova. In a strategic partnership with Italy, Spain, Romania, Slovakia, and Belgium, the project aims to address the capacity and training needs of enterprises across the European Union to sustain their competitiveness for enhanced growth by leveraging underutilised opportunities.
JUNE 2016
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MONTHLY NEWS AIR
ALITALIA OPENS ROME – LARNACA
Route
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he twice-weekly services from the European capital’s Fiumicino airport are expected to further develop trade and tourism between the countries, as the Mediterranean destination is one of Cyprus’ main trading partners. According to figures by the Italian Statistics Institute Istat, Italian exports stood at EUR263 million and imports at EUR32 million in 2015. The flights will be operated with Airbus A320 aircraft featuring two classes, business and economy, where as Alitalia’s MilleMiglia loyalty programme members will be able to earn and redeem miles on the new route.
ITALY AND CYPRUS WILL SOON BE CONNECTED AS ALITALIA PLANS TO LAUNCH NEW DIRECT FLIGHTS LINKING ROME AND LARNACA FROM JUNE 08.
Ryanair and Paphos Join Hands
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embers of Pafos Regional Board of Tourism met with Ryanair representatives to discuss matters related to promoting the coastal destination. Attended by teams from the Cyprus Hotels Association, the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents and the Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises, the meeting analysed common actions aimed at boosting Paphos’ image in markets linked via Ryanair’s itineraries. Both parties agreed to also use the title of the European Capital of Culture as the key card for enhancing the destination’s credentials.
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MONTHLY NEWS AIR
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Blue Air Expands London Services
pon being awarded the air operator certificate and air transport licence in 2015, Cyprus’ new carrier, Tus Airways has commenced scheduled flights from Larnaca to Tel Aviv. With the aim of providing better access between the island and its neighbouring Eastern Mediterranean countries via comfortable, economic and alternative flights, the airline also plans to open routes to Middle Eastern destinations such as Beirut in Lebanon as well as Amman and Aqaba in Jordan. The company also strives to add many Greek islands to its network, namely Rhodes, Kos, Samos and Karpathos. Its fleet currently consists of two SAAB 340B with a capacity of up to 36 seats.
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lue Air celebrated the recent launch of flights from Larnaca to London’s Luton Airport by announcing the introduction of an extra frequency on the route due to commence this month. Since April, the airline has been operating flights between the destinations with three weekly services on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and from June 04, Blue Air’s ΒΑΕ 737 -700 aircraft will be taking off on Saturdays too. Tudor Constantinescu, chief commercial officer, Blue Air, commented that looking at the carrier’s past, the company has been built on stable foundations and a coherent strategy, hence, it has secured an important position in the market.
Blue Air crew at Larnaka International Airport
Tus Airways Takes Off
Cobalt's management announced the launch
Cobalt Awaits Launch
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obalt is the new carrier to enter the Cypriot travel scene, expected to start services in July following the approval of its air operator’s certificate application. The airline, which already welcomed its first aircraft, will initially link Cyprus to Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Chania, London, Manchester, East Midlands, Glasgow, Cardiff, Dublin, Paris, Beirut, Tel Aviv and Tehran, with more destinations to be added by October. Gregory Diacou, chairman, Cobalt, highlighted the company’s strong belief in the skills of Cypriots, and in order to support the national economy, it has decided to recruit mostly from the local workforce.
JUNE 2016
MONTHLY NEWS AIR
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Blue Air Upgrades Dining Options
Paphos Captures Jet2.com’s Attention
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et2.com and Jet2holidays have further grown their offering to include flights to Paphos as the brand new additions to the new winter sun programme. The British carrier is hailed as the only airline flying from Leeds to Paphos in the season. With Malta also added as a fresh winter destination, along with increased frequencies to Fuerteventura, Palma, Faro, Alicante and Malaga, Jet2.com and Jet2holidays will offer nearly one million seats in total, signalling a 45 percent year-on-year growth.
Blue Air’s in-flight meals
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n response to modern passengers’ dietary needs, Blue Air joined hands with Plane Catering to enhance and improve its in-flight culinary offering. Following the deal, travellers from Larnaca to London can now enjoy a selection of hot meals. Tudor Constantinescu, chief commercial officer, Blue Air, commented, “In line with our continuous efforts to upgrade our products and services in all fields and across all of our flights, we have launched this collaboration keeping in mind the satisfaction of our customers.” Antonis Orthodoxou, managing director, Orthodoxou Aviation, representative of the carrier on the island, commented that the catering service will mainly feature locally-sourced products to support Cypriot companies.
Etihad Launches Greek Mobile Website
Lufthansa Strengthens Presence in Cyprus and Greece
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tihad Airways introduced the Greek language version of its mobile site allowing smartphone users to make and manage bookings, check in, confirm their flight status and find information on airports, lounges, flight schedules or the carrier’s guest programme. Abdelrahman Al Suwaidi, general manager, Cyprus, Etihad Airways, said, “Our newly-launched Greek mobile site provides an easier way for local travellers to choose and manage their travel. It is a useful tool with many advantages to all Greek-speaking travellers. It also enhances our commitment to provide better service and products for our guests.” The airline also offers its mobile page in Dutch, Russian, English, Arabic, German, French, Italian, Chinese and Japanese.
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ufthansa underlined the importance of the Cypriot and Greek markets, following the appointment of Konstantinos Tzevelekos as general manager of the two segments. Tzevelekos is the first Greek national to hold such an important post at the company’s Athens-based office. During the summer season, the Lufthansa group carriers – Lufthansa, Swiss International Air Lines, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings and Edelweiss – will serve Greece with some 200 weekly flights. Beyond daily operations to Athens and Thessaloniki, the airlines will also fly to Corfu, Mykonos, Heraklion, Kos, Rhodes and Santorini, offering tourists a wide variety of options.
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MONTHLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION Old Larnaca Airport to Transform
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Hilton Hosts Charity Event
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Hilton Cyprus
hree overseas companies expressed interest in launching a hotel, logistics centre and retail outlets on the grounds of Larnaca’s old airfield. According to Marios Demetriades, transport, communications and works minister, Cyprus, this is the result of a bidding procedure conducted in collaboration with Hermes Airports. He further revealed that given the project’s significance for tourism, the ministry will sign a deal with one of the bidders in the coming months so works can begin as soon as possible.
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t a ceremony held at Hilton Cyprus, Nicosia – Ledra Rotary Club handed over a EUR1,500 cheque to Pasykaf Cyprus, a nongovernmental organisation whose main mission is to support the fight against cancer and improve the quality of life of patients of the disease. The funds were raised following an annual spring rally organised by the club and the LESPAFIPA community which is dedicated to preserving and promoting classic and old cars through initiatives and events.
Princess Beach Recognised as Green Hotel
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The Princess Beach Hotel
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unnyseekers Hotels announced that its Larnacabased property The Princess Beach Hotel has been awarded with the Green Key eco-label. The distinction recognises excellence in the field of environmental responsibility and sustainable operation within the tourism industry. The award represents the commitment of businesses whose premises adhere to the strict criteria set by the Foundation for Environmental Education. The Princess Beach Hotel is located on the seafront of the Oroklini Beach area, a few kilometres away from the cosmopolitan town of Larnaca.
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RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with
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ANNITA KYRIAKOU SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER, CYPRUS HISTORIC & CLASSIC MOTOR MUSEUM
WITH THE COUNTRY BOASTING AN ETERNAL LOVE FOR CARS, ANNITA KYRIAKOU, SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER, CYPRUS HISTORIC & CLASSIC MOTOR MUSEUM, ANALYSES THIS TREND AND EXPLAINS WHAT VISITORS CAN FIND AT THE EXHIBITION.
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: How did the idea to create the museum come about and what is the vision behind it? ANNITA KYRIAKOU: The idea to create a museum was conceived by Dimi Mavropoulos, the owner of the museum. He used to be a professional racing rally champion at international and Cyprus rally competitions. After he retired from his rally career, he turned to classic cars and started collecting them. His collection of cars has been growing through the years. People kept asking to see the cars so the dream of a classic car museum would combine his passion for cars JUNE 2016
and the love for his city of Limassol. Soon, this dream came true. The museum was inaugurated on February 01, 2014. Dimi Mavropoulos put all his efforts in creating this museum with the aim of offering his city, the culture of Limassol and to all visitors a different yet memorable experience of learning the progress of the vehicles through the passage of time. Moreover, with the museum, we are trying to help people in need, as a portion of the entrance fee is donated to charity foundations. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Why should someone visit the museum and what can visitors expect to do and see there? ANNITA KYRIAKOU: The museum can offer a different experience to each visitor. It addresses all ages as the collection includes more than 100 cars covering various periods of the last century. Adults can retrieve memories of their childhood, they can recognise their first car or their parents’ cars. Kids will learn about the changes in the automobile industry through the years and see well-known cars of famous owners. Among the exhibits, one can admire [the popular TV character] Mr. Bean’s famous green mini, Archbishop Makarios III’s bulletproof Cadillac and some very old cars with the oldest being a Ford T model of 1912. Also, people get the chance to go inside some of these cars like a British double-decker bus. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: What relation does Cyprus and Cypriots have to
cars and how can tourists experience this when visiting the museum? ANNITA KYRIAKOU: Many of the cars of the museum have both a cultural and emotional value for the Cypriot people, either because these are cars that were very popular among Cypriots and had an impact in the society or because they hold cultural value to the history of Cyprus, like the vehicles of the republic’s first president and Famagusta’s mayor Andreas Pouyiouros. In general though, we can say that Cypriots have an emotional relation with their cars. They care about them and always try to keep them in good condition. This can be noticed by a visit to the Cyprus Historic & Classic Motor Museum. Most of our cars, which are 40 – 50 years old, only had one owner and never required restoration. Their exterior and interior condition is kept well and they are all in excellent working condition.
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LIMASSOL MARINA STAFF MEMBER SHOWS SPORT SPIRIT
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or the second year in a row, a Limassol Marina employee celebrated another successful completion of the GSO Limassol Marathon at the finish line. Evros Loizides made the team proud when he concluded his run at the 10th staging of the annual sporting
event. The competition attracted over 13,000 participants and was deemed a massive success, gathering runners from all corners of the world.
AEGEAN BACKS LIMASSOL MARATHON
A GSO Limassol Marathon
THOMAS COOK OPENS UP MARKET OPTIONS
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egean Airlines supported the 10th GSO Limassol Marathon as a gold sponsor. As a keen endorser of athletic affairs, the Greek carrier’s participation marks the second occasion of support for the sporting event which gathered thousands of participants from Cyprus and Greece, among more countries. The airline presented several offers for the occasion, including discounts for all Miles+Bonus programme members who took part in the event as well as special fares to everyone who travelled to the island for the marathon.
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homas Cook Airlines appointed Discover the World to handle its sales and marketing operations in Cyprus and in a number of other countries across the world, including Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Israel, Kenya, Poland, Serbia, Slovenia, Tanzania and Thailand. According to Ian Murray, vice president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Discover the World, the new agreement allows travel agents in these destinations to have local support when selling the carrier’s products in their respective markets. “Working with Thomas Cook Airlines, we will make sure to introduce these agents to the product and train them on their service,” he added.
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ELENI KALOYIROU JUNE 2016
ANDREAS CHARALAMBOUS
MANAGING DIRECTOR, AIRTRANS GROUP
Our vision has been […] to provide the highest level of cargo handling
“We are [celebrating] Airtrans’ history of offering services to the air cargo industry for more than 33 years at Larnaka International Airport. Our vision has been, and will always be, to provide the highest level of cargo handling services to all our airline partners entrusting us with their business, and of course the exporters and importers of this country.”
HONORARY CONSUL OF SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, CYPRUS
MICHAEL KARASAVVAS
TRAVEL TALK & WHO’S MOVED
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We need new effective promotional activities “Cyprus is an attractive country as a travel destination, but it has serious problems that must first be understood and then solved. Modern tourism is investing in the future development. We need new effective promotional activities in order to highlight and stimulate Cyprus’ tourist product in all targeted markets. The modern needs and desires of travellers and the consolidation of the perception that Cyprus has forms of tourism other than sun and sea will be achieved with a strong targeted and modern marketing.”
ELENI KALOYIROU has been appointed CEO of Hermes Airports, succeeding Wes Porter. Kaloyirou joined the company in 2014 as executive manager of business control, and was later promoted to chief financial officer; her latest role with Hermes Airports. Overall, Kaloyirou boasts more than 30 years of expertise mainly in the airline industry, as she has held the very important positions of chief financial officer and then deputy CEO at Cyprus Airways. She also has experience in the property development business and in accountancy, having worked for KPMG in Cyprus and the UK. Moreover, she has been a member of the board of directors of the Association of Public Companies of Cyprus between 1991 and 2011. Kaloyirou holds a degree in economics from the University of Cambridge.
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NICOSIA GETS CLEANED UP
Handing over the cheque
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icosia Municipality participated in the Let’s Do It Cyprus! campaign. Volunteers and employees of the municipality started from D’Avila parking lot and covered the centre of the capital in an effort to remove litter and enhance the city’s image as a clean destination. The movement is part of a global initiative that began in Estonia in 2008, when 50,000 people united to clean up the entire country in just five hours. Since then, Let’s Do It! has spread across the world. To date, 112 countries and 13.8 million individuals have gathered to clean up waste.
HILTON CYPRUS GIVES BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
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ilton Cyprus collected EUR5,000 which was donated to representatives of the Association of Greek Ladies Mana during a ceremony held at the property. The sum gathered was the result of a charity gala dinner which was co-hosted by the hotel and the association, and was supported by local
Celestyal Cruises employees at the marathon
media.
CELESTYAL PARTAKES IN LIMASSOL MARATHON
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elestyal Cruises extended its support to GSO Limassol Marathon, as many of the company’s employees participated in the event, in a bid to boost team spirit and enhance the sentiment of cooperation through doing sports and getting the chance to exercise. Almost half of the cruise line’s staff competed in the 5km Primetel corporate race wearing Celestyal Cruises hats and t-shirts, running along the city’s seafront, to actively support charity organisations such as Karaiskakio Foundation and Ronald McDonald Charity House.
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JUNE 2016
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PHOTO ALBUM
Elea Golf Club has been awarded as the number one overall golf club in Cyprus by Leadingcourses.com
COLUMBIA Shipmanagement participated in the GSO Limassol Marathon
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Swedish tourist Birgitta Westerlund Falun is the new Ambassador of Ayia Napa Tourism
Blue Air and Orthodoxou Aviation organised a charity flight to Rhodes
JUNE 2016
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Nicosia Municipality contributed to The Cyprus Anti-Cancer Society's work
European Hotel Manager Association held a fun annual general meeting in Cyprus
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS
CYPRIOT ART ON DISPLAY
NICOSIA BOOK FEST Nicosia June 12 www.nicosiabookfest.com Organised for the first time, the event aims to promote books’ role in the Cypriot society, and bring readers closer to authors.
THE FLOOD FESTIVAL
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T
he group exhibition London to Nicosia – Art, Expression and Connection opened in the capital’s Loukia & Michael Zampelas Art Museum, showcasing the work of four artists from the London British-Cypriot community, namely painters Renos Lavithis and Andrea Tyrimos, printmaker Despina Symeou and photographer Robert Kyprianou. In the words of Costas Kadis, education and culture minister, Cyprus, the event aims to promote the country and develop partnerships with the UK. “Art acts as an agent that links the homeland with the international Cypriot diaspora. These strong bonds and the free spirit of the Cypriots have attributed to Cypriot art its most important characteristics,” elaborated Kadis.
Larnaca June 18 – 20 www.larnaka.org.cy Also known as Kataklysmos, the event celebrates the day of the Holy Spirit. Festivities are held across Cyprus but Larnaca becomes the epicentre during the celebratory weekend.
Kourion
FAMILIARISING WITH MONUMENTS AND SITES
PAPHOS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Paphos June 26 www.piffcyprus.com The programme includes screenings of short films from Cyprus and abroad as well workshops, master classes and lectures.
FENGAROS MUSIC VILLAGE Larnaca July 24 – 29 www.louvana.com.cy The festival enters its third year with 12 workshops as artists from Cyprus, Greece and the UK converge in Kato Drys to discuss music, theatre and storytelling, proposing alternative methods of learning and creating.
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C
yprus celebrated UNESCO’s International Day for Monuments and Sites, under this year’s theme The Heritage of Sport, with a host of events that aimed to make the public aware of the importance of cultural heritage. In line with the worldwide initiative, Cyprus’ Department of Antiquities granted free entrance to a number of archaeological sites and ancient monuments and also supported other actions across the country, such as a symposium titled The Archaeological and Cultural Heritage of the Akamas Penisnsula at Coral Beach Hotel; a sports event at the ancient stadium of Kourion with the participation of the federations of amateur track and field, fencing, archery and wrestling, as well as a number of art exhibitions.
BEER LOVERS GATHER IN NICOSIA
C
yprus Homebrewers Association organised The Full Pint Homebrew Festival for the third consecutive year in Nicosia. The event, which took place on May 21, enabled visitors to the capital’s Faneromeni Square to taste a wide variety of homemade beers, all free of charge.
JUNE 2016