OCTOBER 2014
ISSUE 20
THE MALL OF CYPRUS IS GOING BIG CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION IS AN ACTIVE SUPPORTER OF ACCESSIBILITY AND CURRENTLY LISTS 37 CYPRUS BEACHES CATERING FOR PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL ACCESS NEEDS.
03 UKRAINE ARRIVALS SOAR IN FIRST HALF
08 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE
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NICOSIA
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MONTHLY NEWS
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TOURISM BOARDS
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AIR
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ACCOMMODATION
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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INTERNATIONAL
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IN FOCUS
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TRAVEL TALK
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RENDEZVOUS
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NEWS & EVENTS
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CYPRUS BEACHES NOW ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE
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MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba
Investment Association Convenes at Limassol Marina The board of the Association of Large Investment Projects met at Limassol Marina, itself one of the investment projects represented by the association and one which brings multiple benefits.
CONTRIBUTOR Dominique Christou
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PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian Alica Antoniou DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou 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@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
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hese include new jobs, the upgrade of the area surrounding Limassol’s historic centre and growth potential for the country’s broader economy. Andreas Demetriades, press spokesman, Association of Large Investment Projects, commented, “The implementation of large investment projects will prove a catalyst in restarting the growth process and creating new jobs in Cyprus,” adding that quite a few of the projects represented by the association are at an adequate level of maturity, which allows for their swift completion. These include amongst others golf courses, marinas, health and wellness centres, theme parks and commercial and housing developments.
Board Members at Limassol Marina
Ryanair First Quarter Results Announced
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yanair’s first quarter (Q1) results ended June 30 show a net profit of EUR197 million, an increase of 152 percent on Q1 2013, although the airline cautioned that results were distorted by a very strong Easter period in Q1 with no comparable holiday period in Q1 2013. Traffic grew to 24.3 million as load factors rose by four percentage points to 86 percent, whilst total revenues were up 11 percent to EUR1.5 billion. As well as substantially increasing new routes and frequencies at Stansted and Dublin, Ryanair is opening four new bases in Cologne, Gdansk, Warsaw and Glasgow this winter. The airline has also witnessed strong performance from four other recently opened bases in Athens, Brussels, Lisbon and Rome.
TUI Travel Records Robust Q3 Results
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eisure travel company TUI Travel has announced strong third quarter (Q3) results ended June 30 with underlying operating profit up 21 percent to GBP92 million (EUR114 million) on a like-for-like basis. The company reported 88 percent of its summer trading programme sold with average selling prices up one percent. Commenting on the results, Peter Long, CEO, TUI Travel, noted, “As the trading environment in the commodity space has become more competitive and airline capacity continues to increase, our flexible and resilient business model, focussed on unique holidays and our relationship with the customer throughout their whole holiday experience, enables us to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and out-perform the market.”
OCTOBER 2014
NICOSIA MONTHLY NEWS Nicosia: Fourth Favourite European Destination
The Mall of Cyprus Is Going Big
BVHG Sets Up Regional HQ in Cyprus
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ccording to a poll by European Best Destinations, a travel organisation based in Brussels and developed to promote culture and tourism in Europe, this year Nicosia skyrocketed to fourth place in voters’ preferences. The election of the best European destination started in 2009 with online voting on the organisation’s website only and now incorporates all the main social networks, this year attracting a record 228,688 votes. Some 20 selected destinations were competing for the prestigious title of best European destination, with Porto, Zagreb and Vienna occupying the first three spots and Nicosia coming in fourth, with 7.3 percent of the votes. The capital’s strong points were friendly people, great weather, nice places to eat and drink, and it being a meeting point of civilisations and history.
ollowing news that The Mall of Cyprus is to expand by 8,000m2, ITTL Trade Tourist & Leisure Park further revealed that it will proceed with an expansion on the first floor of the shopping centre housing additional catering, leisure and retail space, as well as space for cultural events. At the same time, a pedestrian bridge will be built over Vergina Street, connecting The Mall of Cyprus with the areas of Mother’s Square, the outdoor amphitheatre and Annex 4. Investment in the project, which is set to be completed and fully operational before Christmas 2015, will exceed EUR25 million.
The Mall of Cyprus
BVHG’s Planned Hotel in Cyprus
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S-based Buena Vista Hospitality Group (BVHG), one of the world’s leading hospitality and resort management companies, announced it is to establish its regional headquarters for the Eastern Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Balkans, in Nicosia. The company’s interest in the island is not new, as it has been studying investment opportunities in the destination since 2005, putting resources behind the efforts of subsidiary Fortune Health Resorts to develop the largest and most integrated health, wellness, and sports resort in Europe. Implementation of the project has suffered delay, but due to the measures announced recently by the government of Cyprus, all obstacles for the commencement of the initiative have been removed and an investment of approximately USD300 million (EUR224 million) in the project is being finalised.
The Mall of Engomi Expands
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oolworth Commercial Centre, owner of The Mall of Engomi, will proceed with the centre’s expansion over two floors. The facility is to be entirely renovated and enriched with the addition of leisure and entertainment amenities including two cinema halls, cafés and restaurants, a children’s playground and retail services. The project is set for completion before the end of 2015 and will incur an investment exceeding EUR12 million.
OCTOBER 2014
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MONTHLY NEWS Cyprus amongst Most Popular Summer Islands
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Casino to Launch within a Year
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rivago.gr, the search engine and hotel price comparison website, researched and presented the most popular Mediterranean islands based on searches on its 47 international platforms. Cyprus features 17th whilst 10 of the top 30 destinations are Greek islands, including Crete in sixth place and cosmopolitan Santorini in eighth. Mykonos occupies 13th position closely followed by Corfu in 15th. The list was derived from searches which took place between April 1 - June 30 and for holidays booked for the period spanning July 1 - August 31.
Department of Forests and Heart Cyprus Showcase the Island
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he government is fast-forwarding the procedures for the introduction of a casino in Cyprus, aiming to select and license the management company within a year. The relevant bill, which has been prepared and submitted to the Law Office for final checking, provides that the project concerns an integrated casino resort which will also include dining and entertainment venues. Under the bill’s terms, the operating company of the resort will receive a license for 30 years and the choice of location will be left solely to the discretion of any interested investor. The resort will also have the option to be operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Upon completion of the legal checks and with the agreement of the cabinet, the bill will be tabled in the House of Representatives for approval, and the licensing procedures launched soon after.
Platania
Bathing Safety Campaign in Cyprus
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lready celebrating a year of cooperation, the Department of Forests and Heart Cyprus are working together to present the green beauty of the island. Heart Cyprus has undertaken a three-dimensional virtual presentation and promotion of the picnic and camping sites of Cyprus, as well as its national forest parks and nature trails, on its main website and Facebook page. Guided by corporate social responsibility as well as the need to promote and enhance the green side of the island, and armed with the overall popularity of its website, Heart Cyprus is a highly effective communication channel for the promotion of Cyprus’ positive image.
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he Cyprus Life Saving Federation organised a successful Cyprus-wide campaign on safety for bathers, in cooperation with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation. Advice concerning safety at sea and on the beach was distributed during the campaign, with information given out at a number of beaches in Famagusta, Larnaca, Limassol and Paphos as well as at swimming pools in Nicosia. The centrepiece of the campaign took place on Vrysi Beach in front of Constantinos the Great Hotel, Protaras, where there was a cardiopulmonary resuscitation and rescue demonstration. The public also had the opportunity to chat with lifeguards and take a close-up look at lifesaving equipment and rescue boats.
OCTOBER 2014
MONTHLY NEWS Exclusive Excursions from Thomson and First Choice
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UI Travel brands Thomson and First Choice have launched a new collection of exclusive excursions in seven different destinations which customers can browse and book either online or in-store before travelling.
As well as being tailored to help customers get a true taste of the destination they are visiting, every excursion must meet at least three of six features designed to set it apart from the competition. Jane Ashton, group director, sustainable de-
velopment, TUI Travel, commented, “We are very conscious about the impact of our holidays on the environment and local community and are always looking at ways of reducing this, and including our excursions in this is the next step for us.”
Strategic Plan Set for Famagusta
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fter a ceremony held at the Famagusta Metropolis, local authorities of the district signed an agreement for the development of a strategic plan for the whole of Famagusta. The deal aims to properly distribute natural and human resources, and also to highlight the comparative advantages of the region in order to also claim European funding.
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ermes Airports has launched the #CyprusAeropolis project, a new initiative that creates a dynamic and integrated presence on major social media networks, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. #CyprusAeropolis has been created as a digital community of the island’s airports where Hermes Airports can share with the public its latest news, extensive audio-visual coverage of its events, promotional campaigns, airline offers, various Signing Ceremony contests and much more. Through its increased presence on the Petros online Petrou, portals, president, the airport Famaopgusta eratorTourist aims toCommercial establish anIndustrial authenAssociation, tic, friendly and commented interactive that relationit was aship historic withmoment passengers for from the future all over of Famagusta, the globe. since it is expected that the The strategic name,planning #CyprusAeropolis, study will show reinforces the correct the idea directions of an airports for the period community 2015 -that 2030, connects and willpeople, be the basis services for securing and companies. European funds.
OCTOBER 2014
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MONTHLY NEWS Korivos to Get a Facelift
Hotels and Restaurant Sector Statistics 2012 are Out
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n estimated investment of EUR20 million will see Korivos Commercial Centre in Paphos significantly expand with the creation of additional space housing various retail outlets offering a range of products, as well as leisure and entertainment facilities and a cinema. Debenhams department store and Super Home Center, both located within the facility, will also be expanded whilst additional public parking for around 300 cars will be provided. Furthermore, a large indoor square will be built to host social and cultural events. The project is expected to become operational in 2016.
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he Statistical Service of Cyprus has published the annual report Hotels and Restaurants Statistics for 2012, which reveals an improvement in the sector over 2011 as value added increased 4.1 percent to EUR1.05 billion. Of the total value added, 49.3 percent was generated through the activity of hotels and hotel apartments and 37.9 percent by restaurants and mobile food service activities. The remainder came from coffee shops, bars and nightclubs, event catering and campsites amongst others. Gross fixed capital investment in the sector increased by over 10 percent in 2012 to reach almost EUR123 million with EUR78.4 million of that invested in hotel, hotel apartment, and restaurant buildings.
First Half Arrivals Surge
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ccording to the results of the Passengers Survey undertaken by the Statistical Service of Cyprus, the number of tourists arriving on the island between January and June totalled 979,838, up six percent on the same period of 2013. Figures for the month of June specifically showed a greater increase of 11 percent as the number of visitors reached 342,221 compared to 308,219 in June 2013. Only a minor rise of 0.6 percent was recorded in tourist arrivals from the UK, while a major boost was observed in Russian travellers whose numbers grew by 22.1 percent, from 96,618 in June 2013 to 117,960 this year. However, on the decline were Scandinavian tourists with decreases for the month of June of 1.9 percent and 3.1 percent from Sweden and Norway respectively. Greece also exhibited a substantial negative change of 6.8 percent year-on-year.
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OCTOBER 2014
MONTHLY NEWS
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yprus Limni Resorts & Golfcourses announced that it is to amend its original master plan for Limni Bay in a bid to utilise the extra incentives given by the government to encourage and attract investment interest. For the seaside project, the company has secured the services of renowned architects and designers, such as Foster + Partners and EDSA master planners, as well as the legendary golf course designers Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player. Limni Bay will comprise two 18-hole signature golf courses with a golf club for each course, a luxury hotel, a high-quality wellness centre, villas on autonomous land plots, residential units and organised sports facilities.
Foster + Partners Limni Bay Villa Concept Design
Limni Bay Master Plan Revised
Leos Car Rentals Open at Limassol Marina
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ith over 25 years of car rental experience in Cyprus, Leos Car Rentals has now opened an outlet at the entrance to Limassol Marina. The company offers an extensive fleet of cars with a range of brands and models that covers the spectrum from lowcost to luxury. The company also offers taxi transfer services as well as guided Segway tours.
OCTOBER 2014
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MONTHLY NEWS Ukraine Arrivals Soar in H1
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rrivals from both Russia and Ukraine have displayed a significant increase, according to figures released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus. In the first half (H1) of the year, travellers from Russia increased by 17.6 percent, while incoming Ukrainian visitors soared by 64.9 percent. More specifically, whilst the Eastern European country sent just 10,727 tourists to Cyprus in the first six months of 2013, this year the figure rose to 17,694.
Wi-Fi at Protaras and Larnaca Beaches
EU-Japan Fest Shows Interest in Pafos2017
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t the invitation of Pafos2017, Shuji Kogi, secretary general, EU-Japan Fest, visited Paphos where he declared his intention to support the efforts of the city to become a successful European Capital of Culture. Kogi, who has been supporting and sponsoring activities by European Capitals of Culture since 1993, expressed particular interest in developing original and creative artistic activities which promote modernisation and new technologies, on both a local and transcontinental level. The possibility of collaboration between EU-Japan Fest and Pafos2017 was discussed with the objective of promoting, through artistic events, various themes relating to urban structure and architecture, modern technology, digital arts, robotics and artificial intelligence.
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n collaboration with Paralimni Municipality, Cyta has installed a Wi-Fi network along the main beachfront in Protaras as well as at Mackenzie Beach area in Larnaca, giving Cypriots and tourists alike fast and easy wireless Internet connection. From this year onwards, the public will be able to connect to the Internet via the Cytanet Wireless Zone along the Protaras commercial strip where hotels, restaurants and cafĂŠs are located, at Fig Tree Bay and at Vrisis Beach, with other beaches to be connected soon. At Fig Tree Bay a special arrangement with Paralimni Municipality means visitors can obtain a username and password when hiring sunbeds and umbrellas. This arrangement will soon be extended to the rest of the Protaras beachfront. The service has been operating in Larnaca since 2011 on the Foinikoudes Promenade, now joined by Mackenzie Beach.
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Pafos2017
OCTOBER 2014
MONTHLY NEWS Louis Cruises Launches New Brand
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nder the banner of its Kalimera! experience, all Louis cruises strive to deliver an authentic experience, with unique destinations and a true taste of culture via themed programmes that take passengers deeper into the archaeology, gastronomy, history and music of Greece. This year’s passengers have enjoyed even more real Greek experience as Louis Cruises introduced nine new Aegean destinations. The values of the Kalimera! experience have now been wrapped up in new brand Celestyal Cruises, a name chosen to imply the divine nature of cruising as well as honour the Ancient Greeks, who were among the first people to use celestial navigation. Louis Cruises is to further extend its routes in 2015 with new ports of call in the Ionian and Adriatic seas and along the Dalmatian coast.
CSO Organises Nationwide European Athletic Event MOVE Week
Louis Olympia
Hermes Airports’ Website Relaunched and Upgraded
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he revamped Hermes Airports’ website aims to give the company a modern image and dynamic presence on the Internet. Developed in conjunction with specialist web design company Dynamic Works, the new site claims to be more userfriendly, providing easy access to information regarding flights and services at both Larnaca and Paphos airports, as well as links to entertainment and business sites in Cyprus generally. In parallel with the upgrade to the website, Hermes Airports has started a new form of interactive communication with the public, where visitors to the website will have the opportunity to connect with and follow the company on social media accounts and at #CyprusAeropolis, a digital community for the Cypriot airports.
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he Cyprus Sports Organisation (CSO) is organising Cyprus’ participation in MOVE Week, an athletic event which will take place across Europe between September 29 - October 5, with the objective of encouraging Europeans to adopt a more active lifestyle. As a national coordinator, CSO has issued an open invitation to all related entities across Cyprus, including those connected with sport, education, health, local government and youth, to use the campaign as a platform for promoting existing sporting programmes as well as organising new ones.
OCTOBER 2014
The New Website
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MONTHLY NEWS TOURISM BOARDS Oleanders to Transform Melissi and Glyko Nero
Swiss Tourism in Cyprus on the Rise
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he Swiss tourism market in Cyprus is doing well according to Giorgos Papantoniou, office director, Switzerland, Cyprus Tourism Organisation, who anticipates an increase of approximately 15 percent in tourists from the country this year, equating to around 48,000 arrivals. Forecasts for 2015 are also positive with new flights and collaborations agreed for the winter period expected to contribute to a significant increase in tourist numbers from Switzerland to 60,000.
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yia Napa Municipality is planning to return the areas of Melissi and Glyko Nero to how they would have looked a century ago by planting oleanders, a plant characteristic of the area but which has latterly been replaced by large numbers of acacias. The municipality will work together with the Department of Forests to uproot the acacias and replace them with oleanders, covering this entire area through which the Salt Water river used to run in years gone by.
Paphos Relinked to Rome
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afos Regional Board of Tourism welcomed Ryanair’s decision to reintroduce the Paphos - Rome route from this month, as well as the continuation of other important services from the Cypriot town, which total 31 per week. This development is particularly important to Paphos as well as to Cyprus generally as connectivity, especially during the winter season, is a priority. Moreover, flights from Belgium, Lithuania and the UK which deliver penetration of traditional segments and further development of new markets are fully consistent with the board’s strategy. As of October 27, Ryanair passengers can fly to Rome twice a week departing Paphos at 10:55 and arriving in the Italian capital at 13:10.
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Ayia Napa to Welcome Marine Park
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n underwater park is expected to be created soon in Pernera by Ayia Napa Municipality. The marine attraction will take its inspiration from Greek mythology and according to Yiannis Karousos, mayor, Ayia Napa, it aims to be the first underwater gallery of its kind in Europe, attracting diving aficionados and enriching the region’s tourist product and the experience of its visitors from overseas. The sinking of the first sculptures is expected to take place early in the summer of 2015.
OCTOBER 2014
TOURISM BOARDS MONTHLY NEWS
CYPRUS BEACHES CATER TO PEOPLE WITH SPECIAL ACCESS NEEDS
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n 11 full-access beaches, wheelchair users are able to get from the beach into the sea by means of an innovative CTOfunded system consisting of a seat fixed to a rail that manoeuvres the disabled person into the sea using a simple remote control. Powered by photovoltaic energy, five such systems are now in operation and available for use by the public at no charge. Those 26 beaches classified as partially accessible have ramps or pathways leading to the beach, however access is not extended into the sea. Hygiene facilities and parking spaces for disabled persons are provided at all 37 beaches.
Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) is an active supporter of accessibility and currently lists 37 Cyprus beaches catering for people with special access needs.
Limassol Releases Short Clips
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fter the success of its online promotional video which received over 40,000 views, Limassol Tourism Board has posted seven new short videos, which are designed to convey the city’s modern image to interested travellers. The clips are derivatives of the original film and were prepared by the board in collaboration with Filmworks and with the support of Cyprus Tourism Organisation. They cover a range of topics from nature, art and culture, gastronomy, wine and nightlife to events and festivals, sports and beaches, business and conference centres, and family vacations. Maria Stylianou Michaelidou, director, Limassol Tourism Board, said that the short clips are aimed at individual travellers who wish to get acquainted with Limassol.
OCTOBER 2014
The Golf Channel Embraces Cyprus
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yprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) greeted the Golf Channel TV crew from Central Europe who visited the island, along with a team of golfers, in order to produce a programme promoting Cyprus as a golf destination. Cyprus is an ideal golfing destination, particularly during the winter months when golfers from Central and Northern Europe travel to tourist destinations with a mild climate. The trip was sponsored by CTO, the Aphrodite Hills, Eléa, Minthis Hills and Secret Valley golf courses, and Paphos hotels InterContinental Aphrodite Hills and Alexander the Great. The Golf Channel team filmed the golf courses and some of the island’s attractions in order to create a golf tourism destination programme for broadcast on the Golf Channel in the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia.
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MONTHLY NEWS AIR Jet2 Announces Larnaca
Austrian Airlines Welcomes New Family Member
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et2.com and Jet2holidays are launching four new destinations for summer 2015, with the addition of Larnaca, Malta, Zakynthos and Antalya, departing from Newcastle. Over 31,000 seats will be offered to the Mediterranean hotspots, while the UK carrier will have available a total of 673,000 seats for its 33 destinations in summer 2015. With services to the new destinations beginning in May 2015, Steve Heapy, CEO, Jet2. com and Jet2holidays, commented, “I do not think [our passengerss] will be disappointed with these latest gems. Malta continues to grow in popularity and the addition of Antalya, Larnaca and Zante means we now have three Turkish, two Cypriot destinations and six Greek Islands for people to take their pick from.”
ustrian Airlines has welcomed the latest member of its Bombardier Dash 8-400 family of aircraft, the 15th Turboprop in the airline’s fleet. Various conversion and refitting tasks will be carried out by the Dash maintenance team to bring the aircraft up to standard before its first flight from Zurich to Lugano on November 1. The route will be operated by Austrian Airlines on behalf of Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) with plans for four flights per day in the future. Jaan Albrecht, CEO, Austrian Airlines, commented, “People who know SWISS also know that they have very high standards, not only in terms of quality but also efficiency […] and we will do everything in our power to fulfill these high standards.”
Peter Kearns, tour operations director, Jet2holidays, with Laura Halliday, aviation sales executive and Leon McQuaid, aviation development manager, Newcastle International Airport
Emirates Now Daily to Larnaca and Malta
Emirates Crew
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mirates has begun a daily service on the linked service connecting Dubai to Larnaca and onwards to Malta. The airline’s cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo, is also offering 17 tonnes of belly-hold capacity on every flight to further increase the trade opportunities between the three cities. Mustafa Al Jabri, country manager, Cyprus, Emirates, commented, “This now daily service will help further stimulate trade and tourism between the destinations and further afield across Emirates’ vast network via Dubai.” The timings of flight EK107, which is operated on an Airbus A330-200 in a three class configuration featuring 12 first class suites, 42 business class suites and 183 economy class seats, have been scheduled to facilitate more effective onward connections.
Ryanair is Hopeful for Cyprus
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t the official press conference held in Cyprus to announce the airline’s winter schedule from Paphos, Michael O’Leary, CEO, Ryanair, said that the UK-based company expects to carry a total of 550,000 passengers per annum on the specific routes. He also explained that the airline is very attracted by the Cypriot market but high airport taxes at Larnaka International Airport do not allow for further expansion of Ryanair’s operation at the hub. According to O’Leary, who was commenting on the state of Cyprus Airways, the island needs a national carrier to help boost its image and tourist influx. Cyprus has all the infrastructure, sufficient hotel units and hospitable people, however it needs better air linkage and more airlines flying into the destination, something that will be aided by reducing airport taxes, he added.
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OCTOBER 2014
AIR MONTHLY NEWS Cyprus Airways and PHI Air Europe Sign Agreement
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yprus Airways has reached an accord with PHI Air Europe, subsidiary of the US-based helicopter support service operator PHI Helicopters which has established its Mediterranean and southern Europe headquarters on the island. The arrangement allows PHI Air Europe to benefit from Cyprus Airway’s engineering and maintenance amenities and will be extended in the future to include other areas such as staff training, supply of airworthiness controls, and cargo services. “This agreement will strengthen and enhance both our operational capability and presence in Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean in delivering an outstanding service to the natural gas and oil industry in the region with helicopter support services,” said Mike Foley, director, PHI Air Europe.
New Widebody Airliners Join Iberia’s Fleet
Ryanair Connects Greece with Neapolis University Pafos
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yanair has announced that it will not only continue, but enrich its connections from the main cities of Greece to Pafos International Airport. The news has been particularly warmly welcomed by Neapolis University Pafos which enjoys a good reputation in Greece and has become one of the top choices amongst Greeks going to study abroad. The university campus offers contemporary services, a friendly and safe community in which to live and, most importantly, courses of high academic standard delivered by renowned professors. The low cost flight connections between Paphos and the largest cities in Greece will reinforce this choice of university amongst Greek students.
Neapolis University Pafos
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nternational Airlines Group (IAG) has firmed up its order of eight modern Airbus A350-900 aircraft for Iberia’s longhaul fleet. The national carrier of Spain becomes a new customer for the A350XWB family which is equipped with efficient Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines and known for cabin comfort and quietness. IAG secured commercial terms for the A350 aircraft as part of the group’s long-haul order announced in April 2013. Welcoming the decision, John Leahy, chief operating officer, customers, Airbus, said, “We are very proud that IAG has chosen the A350-900 aircraft for Iberia. We welcome a new operator of the most efficient mid-size long-haul aircraft in the market.”
OCTOBER 2014
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MONTHLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION Coral Beach Hotel Registers Full Occupancy
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oral Beach Hotel & Resort, the five-star Paphos property of Leptos Group, has observed a surge in occupancy rates, having reached 100 percent over the past months, and expects to maintain this success until the end of this month. The property’s management said these figures and high level reviews confirm Coral Bay and Paphos as a preferred destination amongst both visitors from overseas and local tourists and visitors. This boost in the hotel’s popularity comes against the backdrop of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence 2013, which was awarded to the development earlier this year.
Coral Bay
Thomson Launches Sensatori Resort Aphrodite Hills
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Aphrodite Hills Resort
Almyra Launches Winter Triathlon Camps
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lmyra, a member of Thanos Hotels, is introducing triathlon camps starting in November and running until February 2015. The camps combine Cyprus’ mild climate, warm sea, unending, smooth and virtually traffic-free roads, with the benefits of a Mediterranean diet, relaxing spa treatments and five-star luxury at the property. The bespoke weekly programme will feature a broad and varied range of structured sessions under the guidance of two sporting individuals, Sean McFarlane and Kypros Nicolaou. Daily activities include open water swims in the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, pool diagnostic sessions, extensive road cycle routes, and running sessions which will take place on coastal paths and trails, as well as on the beachfront.
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homson, one of the UK’s largest operators, has announced that its ninth Sensatori property, Sensatori Resort Aphrodite Hills in Cyprus, is now on sale. Summer 2015 will see the Thomson Sensatori collection expand by 50 percent with three new additions in Ibiza, Fethiye in Turkey’s Dalaman region, and Cyprus. Prior to opening its doors as a member of the Sensatori family, the resort in Aphrodite Hills is set to receive a multimillion euro investment to modernise its rooms, expand the pool area, which will incorporate new water features, and update the entertainment area. From summer 2015, guests can enjoy a wide selection of inclusive onsite gourmet restaurants including Italian, Asian and Greek and relax in a Greco-Roman spa with views from the outdoor infinity pool. For the more active guests, an 18-hole golf course is also available.
Cleopatra Hotel Improves Sustainability through Powerstar
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s part of its corporate social responsibility programme to seek out ways to protect the environment, Cleopatra Hotel has installed the Powerstar 200kV system, manufactured by EMSc (Cyprus). The goal is to reduce electricity consumption without impacting on quality of service. Installation of the system has already delivered results as there has been a substantial decrease of over 10 percent in electricity consumption, equating to annual savings of almost 55,400 kilowatt hours and 57.2 tonnes of CO2 emission. “The Powerstar system has proven to be the ideal solution for hotel units. Yet another major hotel, Cleopatra Hotel, has placed its trust in the system, resulting in lower electricity consumption, operational costs, and environmental impact,” attested Kyriakos Michael, business development manager, EMSc (Cyprus).
OCTOBER 2014
ACCOMMODATION MONTHLY NEWS
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s of May 1, 2015, InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel will be rebranded Sensatori Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel Cyprus. Sensatori is a luxury hotel brand which belongs to TUI Travel, and as such the property will be managed by Atlantica Hotels & Resorts, a TUI Travel partner which operates 33 hotels in Cyprus, Greece and Egypt. The franchise contract with InterContinental Hotels Group will be discontinued at the end of the year and the hotel will remain closed between December 7 – March 31, 2015, in order to undergo extensive renovation which will see the addition of swim-up rooms and suites, an adult pool area and purpose-built family rooms. All other units at the resort, however, including the residences, golf course, spa, tennis academy and restaurants at the Village Square will continue operating as normal.
Kanika Reaps in Awards
K Alexander the Great Beach Hotel
anika Hotels & Resorts has announced that its flagship property, Alexander the Great Beach Hotel in Paphos, has won the prestigious Gold Medal for Best Thomson a la Carte Accommodation, 2013. The hotel is also a 2014 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice winner, ranking first amongst
the top 25 hotels in Cyprus. The Paphos hotel was joined in its success by two other Kanika properties. Olympic Lagoon Resort, Ayia Napa, was named Traveler’s Choice No. 1 Family Hotel in Cyprus, followed closely in fourth place by Elias Beach Hotel, Limassol. Kanika Hotels & Resorts expressed pride in the accolades which represent a mix of comments and votes by satisfied guests, coveted industry awards and independent third-party assessments.
OCTOBER 2014
InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel
InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Rebrands
Faros Hotel Upgraded and Distinguished
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aros Hotel in Ayia Napa has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence from TripAdvisor for the third consecutive year, moving up to eighth place from its 2012 ranking of 23rd of the 104 properties in the Ayia Napa region listed on the travel site. The hotel has completed the first phase of three planned refurbishments and extensions, which saw the complete renovation and enlargement of all rooms and the addition of clear glass balconies and decking. At the same time room interiors were enriched with modern furniture and all amenities required for a pleasant stay. The next two phases will include expansion of the property with the addition of new rooms and enhancement of public areas with a view to upgrading Faros Hotel to a four-star property. Faros Hotel
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Cycling Project Receives European Funding The European Commission (EC) has chosen 19 projects, including one from Cyprus, which will receive up to EUR7,000 under the organisation’s Sustainable Urban Mobility campaign, entitled Do The Right Thing.
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ne of the 19 projects is Cycle the Distance, launched by Limassol Cycling Club which aims to promote the use of cycling to and from work to people in Limassol and the Agios Athanasios area. Campaigners will visit companies to speak about the widespread benefits of cycling, distribute promotional material, suggest infrastructure changes and offer route planning services for employees. The programme will also include a mass ride during European Mobility Week, involving all participating companies. The EC’s three-year campaign, now in its final year, supports local, regional and national promotional activities encouraging greener and more sustainable ways of getting around town.
Eastern Europe Set for Hotel Expansions
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s specified by STR Global’s June pipeline report, Russia, Poland and Ukraine are to expand their room supplies through the addition of a total of 32,700 rooms, or 18 percent, to their current Warsaw supply. The report illustrates that, by the end of 2015, Russia will have incorporated 5,519 rooms to its portfolio, whilst Poland and Ukraine are set for the inclusion of 1,654 and 274 rooms, respectively. This initiative will place the three countries at the top of Eastern Europe’s future room stocks, since the combination of their respective supplies will correspond to 46 percent of the region’s total supply. In addition, Eastern Europe’s compound annual growth rate between 2012-2017 is determined at 2.5 percent, with the upper upscale class showing the largest growth rate of 18 percent.
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UNWTO Conference on Religious Heritage and Tourism
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panish city, Elche has been selected to play host to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’s International Conference on Religious Heritage and Tourism. Running between November 27 – 28, the event will highlight the best practices in sustainable development of religious tourism and how this segment can contribute to product diversification, taking into account that experiencing different ways of life and discovering religious sites ranks high in travel motivation. The two-day conference will address topics ranging from the management of intangible heritage to marketing aspects of religious tourism, with the aim of identifying challenges and opportunities to foster partnerships and safeguard all forms of heritage. As Isabel Borrego, state secretary, tourism, Spain, noted, the event will throw the spotlight on the challenges faced by many destinations around the world.
New Mobile App for European Travellers
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ith summer tourists in mind, the European Consumer Centres Network (ECC-Net) launched a mobile application, called ECC-Net: Travel App, which helps consumers to cope with difficult situations on their holiday abroad. In particular, it assists them to assert their rights in the language of the destination country as it provides legal knowledge and language support in 23 European Union languages, plus Norwegian and Icelandic. The various topics covered are car rental, hotel accommodation, air and rail transport, while a section with useful information offers important phone numbers and contact details for everyday emergencies. The app is free of charge and works offline to avoid roaming charges.
OCTOBER 2014
INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY NEWS
Carlson Rezidor Adds to Polish Portfolio
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arlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the opening of two hotels in Poland, Radisson Blu Resort, Świnoujscie and Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences, Zakopane. Both are scheduled to open in the fourth quarter of 2016 and will take the group’s total portfolio in the country to 10 hotels with 2,400 rooms. The five-star flagship property Radisson Blu Resort, Świnoujscie will enjoy a prime location on the seafront of the Baltic Sea tourist destination and have its own promenade. Many fine dining and leisure facilities will be available to guests of the 340-room hotel as well as a ballroom of 1,000m2, dividable into smaller conference rooms. Radisson Blu Hotel & Residences Zakopane will offer 158 rooms and 68 apartments and feature a large wellness and spa centre.
Radisson Blu Resort, Świnoujscie
In focus
Munich is Among the Best Transfer Airports Worldwide
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assengers have ranked Terminal 2 at Munich Airport amongst the top six in the world in the category World’s Best Airport for Transit Passengers, winning it a World Airport Award from the aviation research institute Skytrax. The architectural concept of the terminal, which is used exclusively by Lufthansa, Star Alliance and its partner airlines, allows passengers to transfer very quickly to one of 130 destinations in 45 countries. Lufthansa’s Munich hub is also ranked number one in Europe for punctuality, with over 93 percent of all Lufthansa flights taking off on time in the first quarter of the year. Lufthansa passengers rate Terminal 2 as one of the best in the world in terms of facilities, in particular for dining and also in terms of travel experience, comfort and leisure activities.
Who are you? My name is Panicos Michael and I am the general manager of Alion Beach Hotel, a small, exclusive five-star beach hotel in Ayia Napa. With a unique location, overlooking one of the nicest white sandy beaches of Cyprus and with stunning views of the Ayia Napa harbour, Alion enjoys the privileges of a quiet and secure position. When did you join the industry and why? My passion for the hospitality industry along with the bright future of tourism in Cyprus guided me from the very early years to seek a career in tourism. Right after my studies I returned to Cyprus in 1992 and joined the team of the newly-opened Alion Beach hotel as a food and beverage supervisor.
NAME:
Panicos Michael
POSITION:
Hotel general manager
COMPANY:
Alion Beach Hotel
LOCATION:
Ayia Napa
WEBSITE:
www.alion.com
OCTOBER 2014
What is your favourite thing about working in the travel industry? Working in the hospitality industry is one of the most fascinating jobs. Delighting every single guest with many memorable experiences is our mission and our passion as well as the most rewarding feeling after a hard day’s work. Where would you like to travel next? I would love to visit one of the Greek islands with my family for a nice family vacation. Why is Cyprus an ideal destination to visit? Cyprus is a destination with excellent sandy beaches, 360 days of sunshine, 10,000 years of history and civilisation and hospitable people who are looking forward to sharing with every single guest many memorable holiday experiences.
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TRAVEL TALK
A large portion of Cyprus’ cultural heritage remains inaccessible to the competent authorities
MARIOS DEMETRIADES Minister, communications and works, Cyprus
SPYROS MICHAELIDES Business development manager, Kanika Hotels
”The Turkish invasion and the subsequent military occupation of more than a third of the territory of the country have been and continue to be disastrous for the island’s cultural heritage. As a result museums, monuments and sites have been neglected, destroyed and looted and moveable antiquities have been illicitly trafficked and are still missing. Moreover, a very large number of antiquities from Cyprus have found their way into the antiquities markets worldwide.”
Hoteliers must evaluate the benefits of an e-tourism strategy
MICHAEL KARASAVVAS Honorary consul, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Cyprus
”The rapid development of technology and Internet is revolutionising the way hotels are operating and especially their sales and marketing activities. Innovative approaches are giving the opportunity to attract tourists in a more efficient way, and create new horizons in the tourism market. Holidays are booked online and hotels must adapt to these new market demands [...]. Effective hotel top managements know the importance of e-tourism and are investing a lot in their online business and marketing services to their customers [...].”
It is Cyprus that Kanika aims to support at home, and promote overseas
We look forward to growing more routes, jobs and tourism in Cyprus
”In line with our role and responsibility as one of the most established hotel groups on the island, we have also defined the group’s overall direction for the immediate, mid- and long-term future. Above all, our ultimate and unshakeable goal is to differentiate ourselves as leaders in hospitality who understand our clients’ desire for a holiday environment where they will discover, enjoy or rekindle feelings of love, happiness, excitement and rejuvenation.”
”Ryanair is pleased to launch our Paphos winter schedule, with a new daily route to Athens which will deliver 550,000 customers per annum as Ryanair grows by nine percent in Cyprus this year. Cypriot consumers and visitors already choose Ryanair for our low fares, industry leading customer service and great route choice [...]. Since Ryanair started flights to/ from Paphos in April 2012, we have carried over one million customers.”
MICHAEL O’LEARY CEO, Ryanair
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
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OCTOBER 2014
RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Based on your vast experience, how has the Cypriot tourism product evolved over the last two decades? What were the island’s main advantages and challenges in 1995 and what are the main obstacles faced by the Cypriot tourism sector today? ANTONIS ORTHODOXOU: Tourism in Cyprus has changed a lot since 1995 and as a matter of fact it went through many phases, especially after the Turkish invasion in 1974. Tourism in Cyprus has increased by 12 percent in the last 20 years. In 1995 the total number of tourists that visited Cyprus was 2.1 million and by 2013 the number had gone up to 2.4 million. The island’s main advantages have always been the sunny weather and its beautiful beaches, but above all the hospitality of its people. The Cyprus tourism sector continued to develop very fast, offering new products and services. It is, however, well-known that the Cypriot tourism sector is facing various obstacles nowadays. Most of these problems are due to external, as well as internal factors. Competition is becoming more intense, tourists are becoming more demanding and the tourist period continues to be short, without success thus far in increasing the tourist period by offering new products and services. The adverse economic conditions in Cyprus affected all sectors of the economy. Some sectors were hit very hard but the tourism sector to a lesser extent. 2013 was indeed very challenging and I believe the current year [is] even more challenging. It is up to us however to reduce the adverse effects to a minimum. [...] TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Orthodoxou Group of Companies’ diverse portfolio of businesses includes Orthodoxou Travel & Tours and Orthodoxou Aviation. In your opinion, apart from a track record that spans almost two decades, what other attributes set these companies apart from their peers on the island? ANTONIS ORTHODOXOU: Diversification is part of our business policy, especially if it is a vertical or a horizontal expansion. Orthodoxou Travel & Tours was set up in 1995 and Orthodoxou Aviation in 2008. Both companies provide, amongst other things, services to the OCTOBER 2014
Q & A with Antonis Orthodoxou
MANAGING DIRECTOR, ORTHODOXOU GROUP OF COMPANIES
ANTONIS ORTHODOXOU: It is very true that we have an extensive list of co-operators in many countries. It is our objective to continue to expand and increase our volume of work. This is done by the excellent service we provide and hard work. The management is fully aware that to attract new customers you need to give them what they want; confidence, reliability and satisfaction. To create, develop and maintain close business relationships is a must nowadays. For the above reasons the major step taken by the management is to go out and meet new prospective cooperators, using and investing in technology at the same time to get nearer to them. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Orthodoxou Aviation specialises in offering aviation services to travel agents, tour operators, airline companies as well as individuals. How has demand for such services grown over the past years?
ORTHODOXOU GROUP OF COMPANIES HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES AND HERE ANTONIS ORTHODOXOU, CEO, ORTHODOXOU GROUP OF COMPANIES, SHARES HIS INSIGHTS ON THE ISLAND’S TOURISM SECTOR, INDICATING THAT THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES THAT NEED ADDRESSING. tourism industry, something that we have been doing for the last 20 years. The core of our business is travel and tourism and we evolve around it. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Orthodoxou Travel & Tours has an extensive list of affiliates and cooperates with tour operators from over 20 countries. What steps have been made to attract more customers and further increase client satisfaction?
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WE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THE AVIATION SECTOR HAD POTENTIAL
ANTONIS ORTHODOXOU: Aviation services were always necessary to the sector. We entered this sector because it was closely related to our travel business. For us it was an obvious and natural road to follow. We knew from the beginning that the aviation sector had potential. Over the past years this sector has grown in order to accommodate the increased number of airlines using Cyprus. Open skies policy, more chartered flights, low-cost airlines, increased connections between countries, all contributed to the development of the aviation sector. We plan to continue our efforts to penetrate even further into the aviation sector. Our long-term plan is to become aviation specialists. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Please tell us about your plans for the coming months. ANTONIS ORTHODOXOU: Our plans for the coming months are based on our objectives set up at the beginning of the year. In a few words, intensive efforts to service our existing customers, obtain new customers, penetrate new markets, especially the Arab markets, and manage efficiently our income and expenditure situation.
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS
Digi.travel 2014 Coming Up
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he second Digi.travel e-tourism conference will take place as part of Greek Tourism Expo on December 5 – 6 at the Metropolitan Expo in Athens. The conference will host a number of international speakers who will analyse the trends in the electronic environment for travel and tourism. There will be a strong emphasis on successful case studies from companies expert in the field of online travel, both from Greece and from overseas Theodore Koumelis, managing director, Travel Media Applications, said, “Digital distribution channels (Internet, mobile devices and interactive TV) are particularly important for distribution of the tourism product and they are evolving rapidly on a global level, and tourism professionals must monitor these developments carefully.”
Commandaria and Oil Museum Opened
KYPRIA INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL Nicosia, Larnaca, Limassol and Famagusta September 3 – October 8 www.kypria.org.cy Having launched in 1993, it became the catalyst for the creation of an unprecedented cultural movement.
6TH INTERNATIONAL PHAROS CONTEMPORARY MUSIC FESTIVAL Nicosia October 4 – 8 www.pharosartsfoundation.org Alongside the concert, films of the silent era will be screened simultaneously with the live performance of new works.
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s part of the Commandaria Festival held annually towards the end of summer, Nicos Anastasiades, president, Cyprus, inaugurated the new Commandaria and Oil Museum located in the village of Silikou. “The museum will remind locals and tourists of the methods used by the people of the mountainous regions to provide a livelihood and develop the agriculture of their country,” Anastasiades said, adding that the festival has become an important institution, specifically for promotion of the local wine, but also of Cypriot tradition and culture in general.
MAMA 2015 Likely to Set Record in London
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he seventh UK & Ireland March Marketplace (MAMA) in March 2015 is set to have a record number of branded inbound operators represented and attending, with the number of buying companies registered already up 100 percent on this time in 2013. Organised by European Tour Operators Association (ETOA), the event provides a venue to meet and contract with international tour operators representing over 35 markets worldwide. Tom Jenkins, CEO, ETOA, emphasised, “Whilst wholesalers represent the bulk of travel trade buying in the UK, the branded operators who sell directly to consumers are a vital component in MAMA.” According to a statement by ETOA, the format of one day is dedicated to London and a second to regional UK and Ireland markets, enabling the big contracting organisations to deploy their specialised buyers knowing that they will find suppliers relevant to their needs.
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1ST CYPRUS SUP CUP 2014 Larnaca October 5 www.kitemed.com The third and final race of the cup will take place at Kiti Beach for amateurs and professional athletes.
RUSSIAN MASTERPIECES Larnaka, Nicosia, Limassol October 16, 17 & 20 www.cyso.org.cy Glinka, Tchaikovksy and Rachmaninov are featured in these symphonic works, with the participation of the Cyprus Youth Symphony Orchestra.
OCTOBER 2014