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Tourism: Good prospects despite drop

26/08/2002 09:35
Prospects in the tourist industry for 2002 are not as discouraging as initially anticipated, following the impact of the September 11 attacks against the US, according to official statistics.

As the CNA reports, the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism expects that arrivals this year will drop by nine per cent compared with last year's figures and the reduction in revenue will be lower than expected.

Tourism brings into the local economy about two billion dollars annually and constitutes 22% of the Cypriot GDP. Last year Cyprus welcomed some 2,7 million visitors. More than 50% of tourists arrive from the UK.

The ministry has earmarked 14 million Cyprus pounds for advertising and selling the Cyprus tourist product (one pound trades at about 1.5 dollars).