STEK expressed its opposition for the demolition of “Filoxenia” Hotel and the construction of a new luxury hotel unit.

In a letter sent to Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Antonis Paschalides, the Association expressed its disagreement for the demolition of the hotel in Nicosia and the construction of a new one with the simultaneous upgrading of the Conference Centre.

STEK referred to the decision for the creation of a modern Conference Centre in Limassol. “Limassol has the necessary infrastructure for this and that choice would be suitable when Cyprus undertakes the rotating EU Presidency in 2012”, the letter said.

According to STEK, the proposal is “a recipe of failure for the investors’ due to the occupancy ratio of the Nicosia hotels, which does not exceed 34% in relation to the lower attractiveness of the capital as tourist destination”.

As for the “Filoxenia Hotel”, STEK supports that it must open again as necessary supplement of the training of students in the tourism field. “This could be achieved with the creation of a high-standard Hotel School or the upgrading of AXIK and its affiliation with a foreign university”, it concluded.