TRAVEL agents yesterday cast doubts on the feasibility of the new strategic plan designed to take tourism well into the millennium.
At its annual general meeting yesterday, the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (Acta) said the plan, due for implementation this year, should be put back until 2002.
The plan – ‘Strategy for Tourism 2010’ – was drawn up by Irish experts and commissioned by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO). It was completed last year, but has not yet reached the Cabinet for approval.
Acta chairman Adamos Varnava said his organisation has been pressing continuously for the adoption of the plan.
"Unfortunately, we do not believe that it is feasible to start implementation of the new strategy from 2000 or even 2001 because… a lot has to be done for its implementation," Varnava said.
He said this would have to include a completely new marketing strategy and upgrading of the tourist product.
"On the basis of existing facts, we will be satisfied if the new strategy for tourism can be implemented in 2002," Varnava said.
Tourism Minister Nicos Rolandis, who addressed the meeting, said the plan had been submitted to his ministry this week and would shortly go to the Council of Ministers for approval.
Rolandis said that although tourism was growing beyond all expectations, Cyprus remained uncompetitive. The island is at least 15 per cent more expensive than other destinations in the region.
Some 2.7 million tourists are expected to visit the island this year, more than half of them from the UK, and up from 2.4 million last year. The government expects the extra tourists to add 20 per cent to the island’s tourism revenue, which last year for the first time the one billion pound mark.
The Acta chairman said Cyprus had to eliminate anything that was negative to the industry, citing noise pollution, destruction of the environment, profiteering and rudeness as prime examples.
‘Tourism awareness’ has now become the buzzword of the industry for the new millennium. Varnava said Cyprus should imitate Austria, a country of eight million, which has around 17 million tourists a year.
"Tourism conscience in Austria is cultivated from childhood," he said. "There is no Austrian who does not behave properly with tourists."
He said this was a combination of professionalism and friendliness, and respect for the foreign visitor.
Varnava also warned against over-bookings, which he said were increasing "in a worrying manner".
"There will be unfavourable implications on the effort for further tourism development," he said.
With regards to outgoing tourism, Varnava said that in 1999 more than 540,000 Cypriots had travelled abroad by air — more than half on holiday — compared to 485,000 in 1998.
More than 45,000 went on a cruise, compared to 35,000 the previous year.
Almost 70 per cent of those who went on holiday last year went to EU countries, and almost half of those went to Greece.
