The goal is to make Cyprus a tourist destination for the whole year and not only during the summer months. In addition, an equal distribution of the wealth produced by tourism should be made throughout Cyprus and not only in the coastal areas.
Mr. Perdios referred in particular to the policies implemented to achieve sustainability at the social, economic and environmental level, while emphasizing that the goal is to differentiate Cyprus from the image of the Greek islands, which are primarily summer destinations. "Cyprus does not want to be Greece", he said, referring to the need to promote Cyprus as a destination for the whole year, with authentic and varied experiences for the visitor, rich culture and history, as well as interesting activities in contact with the natural environment.
Speaking yesterday Tuesday as an introductory speaker in the debate on the development of a sustainable tourism model in Cyprus, during the work of the 12th Economic Conference in Nicosia, Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios also noted that there is a goal to increase per capita tourist spending. Something that will be achieved by increasing the length of stay and multiplying their options.
"We are trying to build a tourism model that is not only sustainable today, but also forward-looking," he said, adding that the five pillars for strategic planning 2020-2030 are to make Cyprus a year-round destination, digitally driven (data driven). destination, superior in quality, a destination that respects the environment and channels the benefits throughout the island.
90 arrivals per week, from "alternative markets"
"This framework creates resilience, which today, in the midst of the new crisis due to the war in Ukraine, is proving to be very important. "The new markets that we created in the ways mentioned, will support us this year, as well as last year", added the Undersecretary. He added that "this way of thinking has given us the right to have 40 flights a week from Germany, 20 from France, 30 from the Scandinavian countries every week."
The approximately 90 weekly arrivals from alternative markets in Cyprus, as a result of the State Department's moves for a sustainable and resilient direction in the tourism industry, give hope for both this year's performance in tourism and its future course, the Deputy Minister of Tourism noted.
The two important changes.
Mr. Perdios also underlined the two changes recorded in the field of tourism after the pandemic: "After the pandemic we noticed two important changes in tourism trends: the shift to slow tourism and the redefinition of tourism, with a new visitor profile, who wants contact with the local community, authentic experiences, more activities, more time at the place of visit, and is sensitive to the environment ".
The actions and the recovery plan
Presenting the actions taken by the Ministry of State, Mr. Perdios referred to the support of remote areas, explaining that by creating visitable farms (wineries or farms), with infrastructure for luxury camping (glamping), by boosting local handicrafts (selling from home crafts) and with workshops in villages, the aim is to offer authentic experiences that will shift the focus of tourism in the countryside. He added that arrangements are also being made for infrastructure of special interest, concerning forest shelters, diving tourism and places with access for people with mobility difficulties.
He said that the incentive plans in the framework of the Recovery and Sustainability Plan, which will be given in the next four years and are related to health infrastructure, wellness, rehabilitation, assisted living for hotels, upgrading accommodation and hotels in the mountains, are moving in a new direction. in strengthening villages to create laboratory spaces and in upgrading restaurants and shops with an emphasis on Cypriot products. Also, the quality labels, according to Mr. Perdios, are another aspect that will contribute to a more durable tourist product, highlighting, among others, the Cypriot breakfast and gastronomy, the vegan friendly companies, the Troodos Geopark, the Christmas villages. , which will increase to 15 in 2022, in order to support the winter product.
"Times have changed. Gone are the days when Cyprus promoted itself abroad only as a destination for sun and sea. "Now we are promoting all this in a complementary way", Mr. Perdios concluded, emphasizing that it is particularly important that the locals undertake to offer all these different experiences themselves, and not the travel agencies or institutions.
"Our job is not only to increase tourism revenues, but also to manage the destination, to offer it things," he concluded, noting that for the next three years, environmental measurements will be made in various areas, in order to make political decisions that also touch on this aspect of sustainability.
SOURCE: Economy Today / ΚΥΠΕ