Ministers point out need for quality and resilient tourism in Cyprus

Cypriot Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Yiannis Karousos and Deputy Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios have pointed out the need for quality tourism which could be resilient amid continued crises.

Addressing a conference organised by the Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises STEK on Tuesday, on the next day for Cyprus Tourism, Karousos said quality tourism is attracted through a holistic tourist experience and underlined that “without air connectivity we will not see quality tourism.”

Following a record-year in tourist arrivals in 2019, Cyprus tourism in 2020 recorded one of the worst seasons historically, in the midst of travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, while in 2021 tourist arrivals recovered to approximately half of 2019 levels.

However, Karoussos spoke of a “noteworthy effort” carried out by his Ministry, the Deputy Ministry for Tourism and Hermes Airports, the Cyprus airports operator, and other stakeholders to boost Cyprus’ air connectivity with increased tourist markets.
 
“In the middle of the crisis we managed to have more available destinations and more options compared with 2019,” he said, adding that in 2021 Cyprus had air connectivity with 158 destinations, while in 2019, Cyprus’ best ever year in terms of tourism and passenger traffic, Cyprus had connection with 150 destinations.
 
He also recalled Cyprus’ initiative over the Declaration on Air Connectivity which has been endorsed by 13 EU member-states calling on the European Commission to submit a plan to support the recovery of air transport from the pandemic and to provide member-states with the tools to support air connectivity.
 
On his part, Perdios said the Deputy Ministry’s aim is to render Cyprus tourism more resilient so it could cope with the various crises which will continue to arise.

He also referred to the Ministry’s initiative such as the creation of certified theme parks, maintaining the highest number of blue flags on clean seas and improved gastronomy such as the “Cyprus breakfast” which could improve the tourist’s experience.
 
“Our promotion of Cyprus abroad has changed. We don’t simply we are an island for sun and sea. What we are saying is Cyprus is not just sun and sea but an island with, among others, rich history, culture and experience,” he said.
 
On her part, Angela Gerekou, President of the Hellenic Tourist Organisation (EOT) said that the next day for Cyprus tourism could become a “success story.”

She added that the Covid-crisis and the current crisis in Ukraine could form a new crisis with humanitarian, financial and geopolitical nature.
 
This crisis, she said, “shows how vulnerable we are and how vulnerable tourism is and how resilient tourism becomes when tackling these crises.”