“The government’s vision is to enrich the tourist product via the development of shipping tourism, the creation of new marinas and the construction of smaller anchoring shelters”, Commerce Minister, Antonis Michaelides stated on Friday.

Within the framework of the ceremony on the signing of the rental contract and the start of works at the Limassol port, Mr. Michaelides said that today is a day of celebration for the Cypriot tourism. The cost of the rental contract of the marina has been estimated at €170 million and the contract provides for the completion of all port and obligatory overland installations within three years.

Mr. Michaelides also referred to the efforts and the steps for the completion of the project and noted that the Ministry promotes the negotiations with the bidders for the Ayia Napa marina of 600 vessels. The negotiations will be launched as soon as the Local Plan is approved. The Paphos and Larnaca marinas will be next.

According to Mr. Michaelides, the government’s strategic targets will be finalized in 2007 with the promotion and approval of the legal framework that provides for the creation of anchoring shelters between the big marinas.

With the Council of Ministers’ decision, Latsia and Kato Paphos were improved in November 2007 and will operate as marinas and fishing shelters under the CTO management.

“The success and the benefits for the island’s tourism and economy are a fact. We deal with competition, we enrich the variety of experiences and we improve the quality of the services we offer, attracting quality tourism with increased spending per capita.