Article by the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Giannis Karousou
After the Turkish invasion, Ayia Napa was chosen by the then government as one of the areas where tourism could be developed, with the aim of restarting the economy.
After the Turkish invasion, Ayia Napa was chosen by the then government as one of the areas where tourism could be developed, with the aim of restarting the economy.
Tourist growth in Ayia Napa was unprecedented and beds increased from 300 in 1977 to 10.000 in 1986 and in 1992 exceeded 16.000. At the same time, the creation of a brand began, which made Cyprus famous all over the world. The government's decision to invest in Ayia Napa has borne fruit and history has vindicated those who made the decision.
Ayia Napa in 1992, then with 1795 inhabitants, hosted more than 400.000 tourists and was the flagship of Cypriot tourism, with a significant contribution to the economy of Cyprus. However, the fact that Ayia Napa was a community was a brake on its further development as it was under the provincial administration with all the disadvantages for its operation and development. Ayia Napa was no longer a community but a huge tourist resort that hosted 400.000 arrivals with an equivalent population of over 20.000 and a budget that exceeded those of several municipalities.
The government and the legislature understood the uniqueness of Ayia Napa as well as the problems that existed, because it functioned as a community and decided that for reasons of public interest it should be turned into a municipality. Until then, to turn a community into a municipality, it had to have a population of 5.000, which was not the case in Ayia Napa. based on their finances.
Thus, Ayia Napa was transformed into a Municipality and today is the Diocese of Cyprus Tourism, with 35.000 tourist beds, a budget of 20 million, 800 million annual contribution to GDP and an equivalent population of 36.000 with a brand worth billions for Cyprus. Cyprus' national tourism strategy sets the vision for 2030 to become one of the three best tourist destinations in Europe.
Today, in the context of the unification of Municipalities, Government and Parliament, they will be called upon to take decisions on the unification of Ayia Napa. As then, so today, the peculiarities of Ayia Napa must be taken into account. The decision should protect the brand, strengthen Ayia Napa and not absorb it and create further growth prospects, which is why we proposed the merger of Ayia Napa-Sotira-Liopetri.
History has vindicated those who, in 1974, decided to create the tourist resort of Ayia Napa. In the same way, it justified those who in 1992 recognized its importance, its peculiarities and its prospects and turned it into a Municipality.
Today, in the same way as in 1974 and 1992, the Government and Parliament must make the appropriate decisions so that history justifies them as well as those who strengthened Ayia Napa, tourism and the economy of Cyprus several years ago and not like those who will dismantle the best tourist brand in Cyprus.