The Mayor of Ayia Napa, Mr. Giannis Karousos, gave extensive information to the citizens about the action of the Municipality in 2017 and its planning for the next four years (2018-2021) during the Open Pandemic Gathering, which took place on Friday 12 January 2018 in the event hall of the Municipality, which was packed with citizens who chose to be informed about the Municipality.
As the Municipality of Ayia Napa notes in the announcement, in his report Mr. Karousos stated that 2017 was the best year in terms of tourism, where the Municipality recorded the highest revenues from both the beaches and other sources, as well as many important such as the transmission of the first live web session in Cyprus, the installation of the web portal "Improve and update my city", the introduction of a Barometer, in which citizens annually rate the services and the municipality, its online promotion and Digitization of the Municipal Council, 1st in Weddings (20,000 Weddings from 1994 until today), the implementation of the 1st Participatory budget in our country of € 240,000 where citizens propose and participate in the selection of development projects and the establishment of the 1st Private University in Famagusta Province.
He made special reference to the evaluation survey of the various characteristics of the services of the Municipality (barometer) that all services of the Municipality were evaluated with high scores with the first place receiving with a score of 4.4 / 5 the organization of cultural, artistic and social events and beach cleanliness also with 4.4 / 5. Citizens were also asked to rate the various departments of the municipality with the first taking the cultural department with 4.3 / 5 and in second place the beach and cleaning services with 4.2 / 5. The important thing stressed is not the services with the highest score but the services and features that had a low score and that the municipality should take measures to improve them. "We also identified from the survey the biggest problems that concern citizens, which are noise pollution, four-wheelers, and the number of parking spaces, issues that we should take action to address."
Mr. Karousos referred to the financial achievements of the Municipality where he managed, as he said, to have a surplus of 2017m in 2.5. euros, which will be spent on projects and reduce its loans by 60% while the budget surplus for 2018 amounts to 2.7.
He also referred to the ongoing projects such as the Ayia Napa Marina (250cm), the first phase of the Coastal Front (3cm), the Reconstruction of the Cape Greco cycle path (500,000), the Asphalt Paving in the Municipality (400,000), the Recycling Program (2.5 cm), the Provincial project kokkinokremmos (17cm) and the projects that have come out in offers for 2018 such as the 2nd phase of the beach front (1,5cm), the Large Parking Lot, the Construction of a Museum and Research Center at the Monastery (1.5cm) , the Artificial Reef (300,000), the Reconstruction of the Urban Center of Tefkros Anthia - Giannaki Pappoulli (2.5cm), the installation of Cameras (300,000), stadium extensions, fencing, etc. at the Sports Center (300,000), the Reconstruction of the Police Roundabout (80,000) ), the renovation of roads - sidewalks (400,000), the Construction of Sidewalks in residential areas (200,000), the Completion of Road Networks (700,000), the Upgrading of Asprokremmos, the upgrades in the settlement of Ayia Napa (200,000), the Study for Facing (200,000), the installation of the imposing sculpture of Angel by the Russian artist Petr Stronsky - which is a donation of the International Academy of Culture and Arts of Russia.
In his report, the Mayor of Ayia Napa referred to the mature projects planned for 2018-2019 such as the Amphitheater of 2500 seats (3cm), the Renovation of the Urban Center and Squares (10cm) and the plans for the three years 2019-2021 such as the unification of the coastal front - DG Phase from Pernera - Marina (2cm), Konnos - Limanaki - Architectural Competition (1cm), Sculpture Park - Cactus announcement of tender for upgrading services and infrastructure and accessibility (1cm), 2 foundations , the construction of 2nd Primary School (3cm), New Kindergarten and Nursery School (1cm), the project for Tackling beach erosion (2cm), Famagusta Autism Center, the Center for the Elderly, the creation of a Gallery - Folklore Museum Center (500,000), Seferi (500,000), the Tender Notice for the design and upgrade of beaches and the Underwater Sculpture Park (300,000).
Mr. Karousos also made special reference to the strategy of the Municipality for tourism until 2030, especially in the field of promotion, in the Local Plan, in the implementation of e-government, the actions that have been taken regarding the Environment, the Improvement of the green, Cleanliness, Animal Welfare, for the Youth, in the Sports Events and activities that promoted the Municipality abroad, in the twinning with the Municipalities of Serres and Gelendzhik Russia as well as with cities of China, its inclusion in the network of poles ELIKAS and in His social work.
He made special mention of the Cultural sector, emphasizing the upgrading of events, the integration of young people, the organization of the 3rd Seferis Symposium together with the University of Naples and the Cultural Services of the Ministry of Education, the great success it had and its establishment every two years. goals of the Municipality to become a Seferic Municipality, in the 5th Sculpture Symposium and the participation of great artists from all over the world.
During the Pandemic he also informed about the Open School, the European programs, the plans and studies that will be done so that Ayia Napa becomes a Smart City and Eco Destination.
Finally, Mr. Karousos thanked the Municipal Council, the Departments and staff, the Volunteer citizens and the organized groups for their cooperation and full support and pointed out that "the bar is high and we can make our city the best and most cosmopolitan Mediterranean tourist resort ".