May 2011 - Posts
Citizens, against political manipulations, will no longer hold Cyprus Tourism Organisation in their hearts
Even the slight risk that the urban integrity of the Dasoudi may be compromised in Limassol, has people mobilized in a way that has never been achieved before.
The increasing following of the citizen movement in favor of the #dasoudi (woodland) preservation in Limassol, has singled out the semi-governmental organisation as responsible of an unsustainable proposal which will now escalate with legal actions, should the Cyprus Tourism Organisation feel empowered to push ahead with plans already set in illegality.
The Cyprus Tourism Organisation, which has an exclusive lease to manage the grounds from the Forestry department, seems to have unilaterally awarded the refurbishing and expansion of existing facilities without a proper tender procedure in an area that is unique on the Cyprus coast in the city area of Limassol.
It appears that the Cyprus Tourism Organisation which had already awarded the 2.5 million euro investment, have plans to unveil the project, following pressure from architects, the municipality of Yermasoyia and political interests. This counter reaction against the supporters of the movement, have also targeted their anger against its most visible defendants, such as Mr. Theopemptou and other representatives that spoke out during the meeting celebrated at the Dasoudi last weekend.
Aside from bringing together a group (sos save the Dasoudi) of 3.300 people, since it's creation on the 24th of May, the facebook social media platform has also facilitated the 330 signatures calling for the support to halt the project (Online Petition). The participation online is quite singular and perhaps considered as unique due to the constructive nature of the cause, but also because of the concerns debated openly in the group with contributions from variety of people not necessarily concerned with Tourism development.
Surely this will also set a precedent as to the scrutiny of every action made out by the organisation in the future, but it will also create a basis from which people will become better informed of their citizen rights with the context of new European laws.
It is foreseeable that the fate of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation's popularity as the summer season starts, will hit an all time low on the island. This is definitely not a wise development, as the reputation of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation is already in a decadent state; which will further erode the confidence in the Tourism sector with the eventual spill out effects abroad.
For More Information:
Sign the petition - Join the Dasoudi Group
http://www.facebook.com/Cyprus.Nature
“It’s the most dangerous direct factor which could blow up the recovery of Cyprus tourism and the course of the Cypriot economy,” warned Manthos Mavromatis, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce chairman, earlier this year, just as the Cyprus Airways crisis was unfolding.
Understandably, the quote by Mr. Mavromatis captured then the essence of a challenge, the sustaining role of Cyprus Tourism to the economy and the cost of losing a state-run airline.
The economic repercussions and the strategic response required could not have been undertaken by a single entity and much less by a fragmented industry. The task to recover some of the “missing million” annual visitors from traditional source markets while opening untapped markets in Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, and the Middle East, still remains as a feat, but priorities set forth today, suggest a turning point in addressing the potential of Cyprus as a destination for tourism and investment.
The excitement shared this week about new Airline incentives and the commitment of the government to eliminate restrictive bilateral air service agreements, allows us to understand better today, how influential the initial steps of working collectively, have contributed in reaching any sort of agreement. Although the stakeholder's meetings initially addressed short term commercial issues, from today's developments, it can be safely said today, that the course of action initiated since last October have proven it's worth.
When we asked Hermes Airports representative about the pivotal point at which the Cyprus Tourism encounters itself, Mr. Ken Hassard, Executive Manager at Hermes, highlighted the importance of capitalizing on the competitive advantage of Cyprus’ new airport infrastructure as a strong point, but only equal to, "the commitment by the government in shaping the future of tourism development in Cyprus by ensuring strategic collaborations by stakeholders all regional tourism boards, hotel associations, and municipalities of the airports’ for the forging of longer term, higher volume air service development initiatives".
While agreeing that strategic collaborations with all stakeholders will eventually mark a turning point for Cyprus, he remarked that, "going forward, we must continue to think and act strategically, with confidence in the potential of Cyprus granted its privileged position also as an oasis of calm and stability. It is our mandate to embrace this fact and act on it in unison with all stakeholders under the framework of a new paradigm with renewed strength of conviction and commitment".
Indeed, now that the stakeholder's meetings also contributed so that a quorum be reached at the governmental level, it becomes clearer, that the on-going negotiations with targeted airlines and operators, is much less the success of individual entities as it is that of a whole sector acting in unison.
It should be safe to hope that this similar mechanism be a guarantee to ensure that the 5 year plan to increase airlift also integrates the support of a Tourism model for service delivery that fits in with the commitment of growth.
As Hermes Airports open skies for the Cyprus Economy
Beyond the speculations and tide of statistical announcements made about the Cyprus Tourism season 2011, we are here happy to share with you some news about the exercise of business leadership in Tourism.
As the news was broken out by the Financial Mirror in its online edition, finally the government has decided to finally follow in the steps of people convinced of how tourism models have changed and especially following a model that recognizes the freedom of choice that customers require today when wanting to access certain tourism destinations.
Notwithstanding, it is only fair to recognize and duly congratulate Ryan Air for being instrumental and key as a facilitator for placing Larnaca and Pafos on new air routes. As it was stated by Mr. O'Toole in the press release published, Cyprus is a tourism destination that had been for too long isolated due to high costs, specific interests, un-served new markets and dependencies.
This time last year, as the European Tourism skies were being closed by Volcano ashes, we can today finally assert, that the skies of Cyprus Tourism, have finally been re-opened thankfully to business leadership. Now that half of the work has been done, it's time make the full-circle complete, with unbeatable hospitality.
Cyprus is looking to the Middle East as an old friend; it is very well known that Cypriot business people have been for years working very closely with companies and states from the Middle East. In the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the region, Cyprus is a very well known place and vice versa.
Tourism development has been struggling though.
The area was emitting to Cyprus approximately 39,000 visitors a year some years ago, now, with Vasilis Theocharides in charge of the Cyprus Tourism office we have reached 55,000.
The 2011 ATM (Arabian Travel Market), was a great opportunity for the Cypriot travel businessman or businesswoman to reestablish the “lost connection” with the area in general. This is exactly what some active travel business people did.
Probably the most innovative and most authentic proposal comes from a small travel agency in Pafos; Kalotaxido Travel Services, led by Joanna Constandinou.
Talking to Joanna is easy to get excited about Cyprus. Her proposal to visit Cyprus does not pass from delivering only a beach holiday, which did not ever mention since as she says “the first thing you will realize when you land to Larnaca or Pafos airports is that Cyprus has a lot of sun and plenty of beaches”; Joanna’s proposal turns the visitor from a tourist to an ambassador.
Kalotaxido has been working with Wine-makers, Pottery-Craft artisans and experienced tour guides to create unique travel packages that drive the visitor into a completely new travel experience. Talking to the people who were visiting the Cyprus Stand in the ATM fair, they were very excited to hear that they could visit Cyprus and make their own wine, walk in the small churches or small mosques of villages and make their own pottery work to take home. Analia Bello, from Zar Travel in South Africa, who specializes on Wedding Packages, found those 3 activities Kalotaxido is offering, innovative and exciting and she will include Cyprus in her new honeymoon destinations. As Analia told us, “my clients want to go somewhere safe, where that could get away from their routine and create memories that would last for many years, and what Kalotaxido is offering us in Cyprus is fantastic”.