This year is expected to be written in golden letters in the history of Cypriot tourism since one record is broken after another, said the Deputy General Director of CTO, Annita Dimitriadou.
"Our estimate is that for the first time we will overcome the barrier of three million tourist arrivals, while in terms of revenue things are also developing very satisfactorily, as we expect double-digit growth rate compared to last year," he said.
On the occasion of the World Tourism Day, which is celebrated every year on September 27, the CTO held a press conference, during which the Deputy General Manager of the Organization, Annita Demitriadou, presented the record data for this year, spoke about the CTO's commitment to continued the hard work in order for the new year to be an equally successful year and spoke about the CTO's efforts in relation to accessible tourism, which apart from its social side, is a new emerging market.
Also, during the press conference was announced the new program of short getaways as well as the results of the research on domestic tourism conducted by the Organization.
It was also said at the conference that the CTO has already opened up to other non-traditional markets, such as Israel, Iran, the Gulf states, and even small steps in China and India.
The goal is to further improve the tourism product of Cyprus and to keep prices down, said Ms. Dimitriadou.
"Among the many and important things that have been achieved this year, I would like to emphasize that all the months of 2016, for which statistics are available, increased, while the eight months January 2016 - August 2016 was the best ever in terms of tourist arrivals "he added.
He noted that the increase for the first eight months of the year is at 19.2% compared to the same period last year, while in absolute numbers the arrivals have already reached 2.2 million.
In addition, he mentioned that the last four months (May 2016, June 2016, July 2016, August 2016) were the most successful months ever recorded in our tourism history, in terms of tourist arrivals, compared to their counterparts of all previous years, and July 2016 was the best of all the months of each previous year.
"Regarding the revenues from tourism, we are for the first half of the year at + 13,7% and we estimate that their very good course will continue, exceeding 2,3 billion," he said.
He exceptionally characterized the results that were recorded for the last Winter period since for the period November - March there was an increase of about 33% compared to the previous corresponding period.
Asked about the Ministry of Tourism, Ms. Demitriadou said that no one spoke about the abolition of the CTO but about evolution and strengthening, e.g. in the form of the State Department and stated that anything that offers additional powers and responsibilities to the Organization to do its job even better is welcome.
How accessible are Cypriot hotels for the disabled?
This year's World Tourism Day has as its theme "Tourism for All - Promoting Universal Accessibility".
Ms. Dimitriadou said that in Cyprus there is a need to improve in terms of accessibility to places and services related to tourism, culture and entertainment, since there is significant room for improvement in the current situation.
As it was said at the conference, 95% of the hotels in Cyprus have common areas that are accessible to people with disabilities but the problem is focused on rooms where only a very small number of beds are suitable.
Herodotus Herodotus, a member of the CTO Board of Directors, spoke on the issue of accessibility, saying that it is estimated that Cyprus through the improvement of accessibility could have an increase in demand by 24% and the financial contribution of European tourists by 18%. within the next six years.
He referred to the many actions taken by the CTO on the issue of accessibility and said that there is a strong interest from travel agents abroad, especially from Europe, as Cyprus becomes accessible, something to which the CTO attaches particular importance.
"Whether as a person with a disability, even temporary, or as a family with young children, or due to age, sooner or later almost all of us will benefit if Cyprus becomes a universally accessible tourist destination," said Ms. Dimitriadou.
He emphasized that the CTO, in the context of its social role, foresaw the prospects opening up for the Accessible Tourism market and the dynamics developing within the European Union for the mandatory integration of accessibility in the whole range of tourism policies of the Member States. , has to show remarkable work in the collective effort of Cyprus to meet the needs of all our fellow human beings.
The organization of workshops, the announcement of subsidy plans for hotel and food businesses, the financial contribution for the improvement of 40 beaches, the preparation of "Standard guidelines for the proper adaptation and evaluation of the accessibility of hotel businesses" and the "Guide for helpful people" are just some of the series of actions and initiatives we have implemented. And our efforts will definitely continue, "said Ms. Dimitriadou.
Small getaways at good prices
The beginning of the new phase of the "very successful program" Small getaways - Great Experiences "which was embraced by Cypriots and foreigners living permanently in Cyprus since the autumn of 2008", was then presented by Ms. Dimitriadou.
The new phase of the program offers weekend vacation packages at attractive prices, he added.
The program offers an online reservation program and combines excursions to areas of unique beauty. Program information is available at www.cyprusshortescapces.com
The last phase of the Short Escapes was completed in June 2016.
"It is clear to us that people have embraced the program and we are receiving very encouraging messages to continue the effort. "In the previous year 2015/2016 we had about 5.500 participants (of whom 2.000 took advantage of the Sunday trip offered by the CTO)", he said.
The new phase starts on October 7, 2016 and lasts until the last weekend of June 2017. The program has been enriched with new excursions and has been renewed in terms of contract hotels and restaurants. What has remained the same are the prices.
The program includes two, three, four and five star hotels as well as organized apartments, tourist villages and agritourism accommodation. A variety of dining areas are also included for everyone to design their own individual package.
The Small Escapes also offer: hotel accommodation offer on Saturday with arrival at 12:00 noon and departure at 18:00 on Sunday afternoon. The program also includes dinner and breakfast at the hotel.
The package also includes lunch on Sunday lunch, in a tavern of the customer's choice, in the province of residence as well as participation in one of the thematic excursions, which this year include a visit to unknown and well-known corners of our Cyprus, nature study in Akamas and Diaryzos Valley, always accompanied by a guide. The excursions are an offer of the CTO and the programs were prepared after we have taken into account the suggestions of the people who participated in the program before.
They also include wellness holidays at various hotels offering full-board accommodation as well as spa treatments. Wellness vacations are ideal for romantic getaways.
They also include gift vouchers worth 50 and 100 euros which can be given as gifts and redeemable until the end of the period.
As noted, the booking phone number is 77778050 and the website where online booking is possible is www.cyprusshortescapes.com.
Research on domestic tourism
The Cyprus market is for the CTO a market of high priority and importance, with the overnight stays of Cypriots and Cypriots amounting to about 6% of the total overnight stays, said Ms. Dimitriadou, presenting a relevant survey conducted on behalf of the CTO in in relation to domestic tourism in the off-peak months.
On behalf of the company, Lysandros Hatzilamprou said that the survey was conducted for the non-peak period, ie Autumn, Winter and Spring, of 2014, 2015 and 2016. A sample of 1,560 respondents, 54% stated that they spent the night outside their permanent province during last two years non-peak months. Most of them reported that the overnight stays took place during the winter months. The preferred provinces are with a difference of Paphos and Limassol with the last being the provinces of Larnaca and Nicosia.
Tourist accommodation and restaurants are the most used tourist product channels, with attractions being visited by only one in five in the sample, he said. The level of domestic tourist satisfaction in Cyprus is particularly high in all three (78,3 points out of 100 for accommodation, 76,4 restaurants and 82,2 places of interest). The lowest rating is the issue of quality / price ratio, something that concerns the CTO.
Source: KYPE