The adoption of the CTO Strategic Plan, which stresses the need for the construction of sports infrastructure, will contribute to the recovery of the island’s tourist industry and will guarantee the improvement of the tourist product, Chairman of the Cyprus Tourism Organization, Fotis Fotiou said at the Press Conference held on Wednesday. The Strategic Plan includes the completion of the works of the Geroskipou swimming pool, the gymnastics facilities in Peyia and the host of foreign athletes during their preparation of the Olympics.
Sports is the main keystone
The achievement of the strategic goals for the improvement of the island’s tourist product is based on the development of sports tourism. The CTO has, therefore decided, to spend a total £12 million for the construction of sports infrastructure. Our aim is to attract athletes and football teams in Cyprus and we have created a web page for the reservation of facilities by foreign athletes for their training, Mr. Fotiou said.
Golf courts
Mr. Fotiou also referred to the construction of golf courts to all regions that “will tackle the problem of seasonability” and will upgrade the tourist product. Mr. Fotiou emphasized that there are 6 thousand golf courts around Europe and 5 million players, which cannot go into training during winter since golf courts are usually closed. Their promotion has been undertaken by a special committee, which is composed of the Ministers of Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Transport and Education.
Casino
CTO Chairman also stressed the need for the opening of a casino in Cyprus, which “will enrich the island’s tourist product”, increasing the state revenues. Mr. Fotiou said that the CTO will proclaim two separate studies that will examine the repercussions of the casino on economy, tourism and society and revealed that hundreds of G/C gamblers stay overnight in the occupied territories. “A large number of Israeli tourists also visit the T/C casinos via the free areas. Cyprus could attract Arab and Israeli gamblers as well”, Mr. Fotiou added.
New efforts for convention tourism
As for the convention tourism, Mr. Fotiou said that the CTO has decided to introduce a Convention Bureau, to finance a study for the creation of a convention center in Limassol and to launch a campaign for its promotion.
“The CTO has already scheduled the conduct of 30 studies and researches in 2004 and 2005. It has already completed the study for the granting of incentives for the withdrawal of low quality hotels”.
Development of priority markets
The Cyprus Tourism Organization plans to support tour operators in all countries and has contributed to the development of a system for the approval of the Russian visas. Mr. Fotiou also referred to the joint efforts with Greece and Egypt for the attraction of Chinese tourists.
Mr. Fotiou admitted, however, that this was a tough year for the Cyprus tourism, despite the efforts to ease the problems. “Although by the end of the year tourist arrivals will be higher than last year’s, the long term solution of the problem lies to the adoption of the strategic plan.
Cyprus has no tourist conscience
On the question whether CTO has examined the problem of competitiveness as a result of the high price of the island’s tourist product, Mr. Fotiou said that there is a need to improve the tourist product in terms of cleanliness, hotels, airports, roads and profiteering. “Cyprus has no tourist conscience”, he concluded.
Sports is the main keystone
The achievement of the strategic goals for the improvement of the island’s tourist product is based on the development of sports tourism. The CTO has, therefore decided, to spend a total £12 million for the construction of sports infrastructure. Our aim is to attract athletes and football teams in Cyprus and we have created a web page for the reservation of facilities by foreign athletes for their training, Mr. Fotiou said.
Golf courts
Mr. Fotiou also referred to the construction of golf courts to all regions that “will tackle the problem of seasonability” and will upgrade the tourist product. Mr. Fotiou emphasized that there are 6 thousand golf courts around Europe and 5 million players, which cannot go into training during winter since golf courts are usually closed. Their promotion has been undertaken by a special committee, which is composed of the Ministers of Commerce, Interior, Agriculture, Transport and Education.
Casino
CTO Chairman also stressed the need for the opening of a casino in Cyprus, which “will enrich the island’s tourist product”, increasing the state revenues. Mr. Fotiou said that the CTO will proclaim two separate studies that will examine the repercussions of the casino on economy, tourism and society and revealed that hundreds of G/C gamblers stay overnight in the occupied territories. “A large number of Israeli tourists also visit the T/C casinos via the free areas. Cyprus could attract Arab and Israeli gamblers as well”, Mr. Fotiou added.
New efforts for convention tourism
As for the convention tourism, Mr. Fotiou said that the CTO has decided to introduce a Convention Bureau, to finance a study for the creation of a convention center in Limassol and to launch a campaign for its promotion.
“The CTO has already scheduled the conduct of 30 studies and researches in 2004 and 2005. It has already completed the study for the granting of incentives for the withdrawal of low quality hotels”.
Development of priority markets
The Cyprus Tourism Organization plans to support tour operators in all countries and has contributed to the development of a system for the approval of the Russian visas. Mr. Fotiou also referred to the joint efforts with Greece and Egypt for the attraction of Chinese tourists.
Mr. Fotiou admitted, however, that this was a tough year for the Cyprus tourism, despite the efforts to ease the problems. “Although by the end of the year tourist arrivals will be higher than last year’s, the long term solution of the problem lies to the adoption of the strategic plan.
Cyprus has no tourist conscience
On the question whether CTO has examined the problem of competitiveness as a result of the high price of the island’s tourist product, Mr. Fotiou said that there is a need to improve the tourist product in terms of cleanliness, hotels, airports, roads and profiteering. “Cyprus has no tourist conscience”, he concluded.
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