THE government yesterday rejected allegations that it was changing the criteria for golf courses to serve private financial interests.
Speaking before the House Commerce Committee, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Minister George Lillikas rubbished allegations that the government had changed the incentives for the development of golf courses to serve specific interests.
“I consider it an insult to four ministries and six (government) services who worked for months to prepare the incentives.
“Some respect does not do any harm,” the minister said.
The issue had been tabled by DISY deputy George Georgiou who told the committee there had been rumours claiming that the number of beds that could be built on the site has been changed from 750 to 4,000.
Georgiou charged that the changes would benefit only two to three people who bought the land cheaply and were now waiting for the publication of the incentives in order to capitalise.
Georgiou wondered how the construction of buildings to accommodate 4,000 beds would affect town planning policy and whether there would be balanced development in those areas.
He also noted that this would give an unfair advantage to a few people on the backs of other hoteliers.
Lillikas said the current plan for only 750 beds was not viable and stressed that a good incentive should be given to business people to get them to take the risk and invest millions of pounds in such a venture.
He warned that Cyprus needed to move fast as neighbouring countries like Turkey were already developing their golf market.
The minister said it was easy for people to blame everything on private interests when they disagreed and asked whether those people wanted the state to foot the bill for the golf courses instead.
He added that the bed number would be linked to the land area owned by applicants and assured deputies that specifications would be so strict that there would not be any cheap constructions.
It is understood that plans provide for the development of 12 to 14 golf courses across the island.
The minister warned that either the tourist development had to be supported or Cyprus risked losing out to the competition, which was already way ahead.
Land registry department director Andreas Christodoulou said 1,000 to 1,200 donums of land were needed for each golf course.
Paphos could host three to four courses and one or two could be developed in the Limassol area, Christodoulou said.
There was no private land large enough for a course to be built in the Larnaca or Famagusta districts, he added.
Lillikas revealed the government was looking into providing state land for a golf course in Famagusta.
The chairman of the hoteliers’ association Haris Loizides agreed with the minister but warned that the same incentives should be given across the board.
Loizides also pointed out that the scheme should secure access for everyone and not just the ones accommodated at the course.
