With a positive sign and encouraging messages ahead of the new year, ETAP Famagusta's contacts at the international tourism exhibition World Travel Market (WTM 2024) in London were completed. During the one-on-one meetings with the most important international travel organizers, airlines and special interest tourism operators, a review of the year we are going through was made, while the perspectives and plans for 2025 were discussed.
On the positive side, the good image and satisfaction expressed by these important agencies for both Ayia Napa and Protaras, as well as for the entire region of Famagusta, is recorded. Equally important, the fact that the Famagusta region, as well as Cyprus in general, has established itself as a safe destination for holidays, while over time it has managed to build trusting relationships with the British market, which is, after all, the largest in terms of arrivals per year. The trend recorded in the current phase in view of 2025, as was evident through the contacts, regarding the British market leaves room for optimism that arrivals will fluctuate at the same or even higher levels, compared to 2024.
One of the main issues raised for discussion in the context of the personal contacts was that of the gradual lengthening of the tourist season, as seasonality is one of the most important problems that the tourism sector in the Famagusta region has to deal with over time. This is a goal that requires the coordination of actions by all agencies and branches of the tourism industry, as it presupposes enhanced flight connectivity all year round and competitive infrastructure-tourism product for the winter months. At the present stage, for 2025, the pursuit of gaining a few weeks at the end of the tourist season seems a feasible goal, a goal that, if achieved, will be the beginning of a further gradual extension.
The mayor of Paralimni-Deryneia, Mr. Giorgos Nikolettos, the President of PASYXE Famagusta, Mr. Panagiotis Konstantinou and the Director of ETAP Famagusta, Mr. George Kavkalias. The province of Famagusta had a dynamic presence at the Cyprus stand, with a large number of hoteliers and other businessmen active in the tourism sector in the region.
ETAP Famagusta has already prepared a specific program of experiences and activities for visitors who will choose the area for their holidays from November to March, while in collaboration with all the agencies of the province it participates in the online promotion campaign in foreign markets, among including the British one. At the same time, aiming at further investment in special forms of tourism, meetings and contacts with foreign bodies are sought to promote the area as a destination for sports and cultural events, for conference tourism, for wedding/romantic tourism, for walking routes and nature trails, mild cycling routes, diving, religious tourism and gastronomy.