Giannis Karousos spoke in an interview with Sigmalive about his vision, goals, projects, but also the future of Ayia Napa.
"The free area of Famagusta was for years the poor relative and was neglected"
"Now the Municipalities of the province of Famagusta, claim as a single voice, something that gives tremendous momentum to the aspirations of all of us"
"Our goal is to make Ayia Napa a lively, cosmopolitan and full of experiences for every tourist, city and destination"
"Increase in tourism in April"
Tourism in April is indeed showing an increase, notes Mr. Karousos. "Ayia Napa has fortunately managed to build in Sports Tourism, to create the necessary infrastructure and with method and proper planning to properly utilize this infrastructure."
Mr. Karousos emphasized the fact that the Municipalities of the free area of Famagusta managed to find common communication codes and to express a single voice. According to Giannis Karousos, this fact has given new dynamics to the claim, with planning, dynamism and documented elements.
He also described the cooperation with the surrounding municipalities as excellent and highly efficient.
People's perception of Ayia Napa tourism is unfair to us.
He misunderstood the prevailing view of the quality of tourists that Ayia Napa attracts. In Ayia Napa, he stressed, there are over 25000 tourist beds, of which only 3000 are for the youth, which everyone condemns.
"Our goal is to make Ayia Napa a lively, cosmopolitan and full of experiences for every tourist, city and destination. With my election to the City Hall of Ayia Napa, we implemented the strategy of integrated tourist experience for every visitor of our Municipality.
"There are no night circuits in Ayia Napa"
"There are no night circuits in Ayia Napa," said Giannis Karousos emphatically. "We warn," he continued, "whoever thinks he can come to Ayia Napa and behave in the ways and methods applied by the night circuits, not to come, because Ayia Napa has no place for such practices."
In recent years, there has been only one case in Ayia Napa, according to Mr. Karousos, of the fivefold murder and this was an isolated incident as everything showed.
Dramatic call for strengthening policing in Ayia Napa
The main problem, which is also timeless, he continued, is that the Police is constantly understaffed. The police officers, who are the force of the Ayia Napa Police Station, make superhuman efforts, according to him, to cope and they succeed to a great extent.
The Municipality of Ayia Napa is urgently requesting the strengthening of the Police Station with additional force, which will greatly help to avoid some negative isolated incidents.
Investments and strategic planning
Our primary concern was and is to create landmarks, parks, attractions. "Whatever we implement in the field of tourism, we want to create a new experience for the visitor, so that he always feels the need to return", says Mr. Karousos.
Marina of Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa Marina is an entirely private initiative and investment, which according to Mr. Karousos, will put Ayia Napa on the world map of investments.
According to the Mayor of Ayia Napa, this marina will be a jewel of the Mediterranean, will mark an entry point into the Republic of Cyprus from countries such as Lebanon and Israel as the distance that separates these areas is only 180 kilometers.
This investment will give jobs to more than 850 of our fellow citizens during its construction period, but also over 350 during its operation.
In relation to the practical part, that is, the construction of the marina, at this time the offers regarding the construction of the port only have been opened. That is, the part that will host the boats. Construction may begin in the coming months.
The area for the Ayia Napa Marina has already been found, and the relevant signs that guide the area have been placed. All that remains now is from plans to action.
Reconstruction of the coastal front
Another project of exceptional importance for Ayia Napa, according to its Mayor, is the regeneration of the coastal front. In the first stage, offers were announced for the renovation from the Port of Ayia Napa to the beach of Pernera, Ayia Napa.
At a later stage, regeneration will take place up to Nissi Beach and the final goal and vision is the unification of the entire coastal front, up to Liopetri.
The design envisages the renovation of the main streets of Ayia Napa, the Ayia Napa Monastery, which aspires to become an Archaeological Museum, an educational center, a research center and more.
There are also many projects already in the plans, such as the general renovation of the Ayia Napa Center, for which the Municipality of Ayia Napa is seeking funding, so that it can proceed with their implementation.
Source: SigmaLive