The strengthening of the 2030 tourism strategy, the creation of a promotion agency and the promotion of Cypriot gastronomy and Cypriot products are among the positions for tourism presented at the Municipal Hall of Paralimni by the independent candidate for the presidency of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis.
In a statement from the Staff, it is stated that "the proposals were formulated on the basis of discussions with professionals in the sector, the existing strategy from the Deputy Ministry and reflect the issues that concern and are discussed among tourism operators over time, taking into account international trends and how the tourism industry will contribute to the well-being and quality of life of all the residents of Cyprus".
Our priority, said Mr. Christodoulidis, "is to support the private initiative, so that we can move together responsibly for the future of tourism in Cyprus. In this direction, we are updating and strengthening the Tourism Strategy 2030 for the sustainable development of the tourism industry, taking into account the international data that are constantly changing and directly affect us".
In his speech, Nikos Christodoulidis referred to "the creation of a Promotion Agency, with the aim of upgrading the promotion activities of Cyprus as a tourist destination, which will operate in close cooperation with the private sector and tourism agencies and to strengthen the air connectivity of Cyprus with the establishment of strategic partnerships with airlines and neighboring countries".
"The aim is to extend connectivity to far-flung destinations from which we can attract higher-end tourism," he said. Emphasis, he noted, "is also given to the increase of airlines that use our country's airports as a base with the aim of flexibility and penetration into new and existing markets".
The adaptation of the tourism sector to technological developments, he continued, "is a key priority and there should be the relevant synergies with the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. We support this adaptation, strengthening the digital transformation of Cyprus tourism in all sectors with the aim of upgrading the digital presence of our destination at a local and global level".
In order to achieve the goals, said Mr. Christodoulidis, "in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the utilization and strengthening of bilateral political relations and the consolidation of political trust, which will contribute decisively to the promotion of economic, commercial and tourist relations, are promoted." "Within the same framework, we are investing in economic diplomacy with the aim of consolidating relations with other states and with global tourism giants, in order to strengthen existing markets and develop new ones," he added.
According to Mr. Christodoulidis, "the aim is to promote educational seminars through the Human Resources Development Authority in collaboration with the competent Deputy Ministry and all the agencies involved, while emphasis is placed on enriching our tourism product. We strengthen and promote, among others, sports, medical, diving, business, and cultural/religious tourism, while also aiming to extend the tourist season, mitigating the problem of seasonality."
He also said that "we highlight the gastronomy of Cyprus at an international level but also through local actions, giving the traditional flavors of our country the value they deserve, by implementing actions to promote Cypriot cuisine and Cypriot products.
Mr. Christodoulidis also referred to "the creation of a tourism observatory of international standards with the aim of continuously recording and analyzing data concerning the entire range of tourist activities both in Cyprus and in competing destinations".