Cabinet approves golf course for Ayia Napa

A GOLF course is to be created on state forest land in the Ayia Napa area, the government announced yesterday.

The Cabinet has decided that some 500 donums of forest land are to be leased to a consortium of hoteliers who want to build a golf course to attract winter tourists to the island’s east coast area.

The decision, taken on Wednesday and announced yesterday, is bound to kick up a storm of protest from environmentalists. Greens argue that the parched island does not have water to spare for golf courses. But Commerce Minister Nicos Rolandis insists slightly higher water consumption is a small price to pay for attracting more winter visitors.

An official announcement yesterday explained the Cabinet’s reasons for sacrificing forest land for a golf course.

"The reason it was decided to create a golf course in the Ayia Napa area is the upgrading and enrichment of the tourism product of the Ayia Napa and Paralimni area – which is the only tourist area which suffers seriously from seasonality," the statement read. "A golf course is considered a very significant tourism development which will support tourism the year round."

More golf courses are in the pipeline.

Strong local opposition blocked a plan for a course at Pentakomo, in the Limassol area, but the government is still backing plans for a course at Oroklini, near Larnaca.

There are already two courses in the Paphos area, with a third on the way.

Despite the water-use concerns, golf experts insist Cyprus can only put itself on the golfing "map" if it can offer enthusiasts six or seven courses to choose from.

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