The Mayor of Paralimni was invited this morning to the show "Front Page" of Sigma TV Theodoros Pyrillis who commented on the statements he made last Friday and were in the spotlight on the transportation of his unaccompanied children Purnara in a hotel accommodation in Αγία Νάπα ή First of all.
Read also: Pyrillis: "Protaras and Famagusta will not become Pournara" (VIDEO)
As stated by Theodoros Pyrillis, his statement was intended to concern all stakeholders, expressing understanding for the problems that exist today with immigration and refugees due to Ukrainian, stating that everyone should show their human face.
At the same time tourism offers 15-20% of GDP and that it is a sensitive sector that we must pay attention to. There is a risk that what our country has built for so many years by attracting high-income tourists and a large number of tourists by creating jobs and upgrading wages, will be lost. All this must be preserved, said the Mayor of Paralimni.
Regarding this year's tourist year, he did not fail to express his concern, as he said, no one knows what will happen in Ukraine, while at the same time, there is a global economic recession which is expected to affect tourism. At the same time, however, he said, since tourism is an important part of the economy, it must be preserved.
Referring to the offers announced by the Ministry of Tourism for hosting refugees from Ukraine, this, as he said, has been done only for the province of Famagusta and not for other areas and that it would not be right to accommodate refugees in a single area. He stressed, at the same time, that the people who will be hosted in our country, should live within the residential area, in order to become part of the local community and have the right to work, expressing the view that they could be hosted in Paralimni instead of Protaras. .
Regarding immigration, he referred to Hospitality Centers and the efforts made by the Government as well as the problem that Cyprus is called to face with the flows of immigrants.
Hoteliers are pushing to accommodate immigrants
As he said, when tourists come and see many living among them πρόσφυγες, then this message will be conveyed to their country, with the risk of changing the image of Cypriot tourism. He also sent a message to the hoteliers themselves who, he said, are pressuring to host refugees and migrants in their hotels, warning them to be careful about what is to come with Cypriot tourism.
He pointed out that there are many places beyond the tourist area that can accommodate these people.
In recent years, he said, tourist beds in First of all have increased by 40% while revenues from tourism have also increased and said that the effort is being made to keep hotels open and in the winter season to open more jobs to young people and to be able to choose this profession and give them 12 months of employment.
He did not fail to point out the big problem astyphilia facing the free area of Famagusta with many young people leaving to find work outside their province.
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