Despite the 13% decline in tourist reservations for summer 2003, Cyprus Commerce Minister, Giorgos Lillikas has expressed his confidence that there will be a last minute reverse of the situation and said that the Ministry is working hard to prepare a long-term CTO strategic plan, which will take shape by 2010.

The Minister said that the government is currently preparing an economic support program and stressed that the lifting of the restrictive measures in the movement to and from the occupied territories will not affect the Cyprus tourism. As regards to the SARS outbreak, Mr. Lillikas said that the government has already taken all proper measures and the island will not be affected by the deadly syndrome.

Mr. Lillikas also noted that the insistence on behalf of the foreign tour operators to be aware of the organized trips and the overnight stays in Northern Cyprus is justified.

It is worth mentioning that tour operators have shown respect to the decisions of the Cyprus government.