TOURIST arrivals last year increased by 5.2 per cent to 2,470,000 bringing in gross receipts estimated at one billion pounds.
Revenue from tourism is thought to have accounted for about 13 per cent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
The statistics were included in the Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s (CTO) 2005 annual report as part of yesterday’s World Tourism Day.
However, the passenger arrival figures for August 2006 show that the number of tourists fell by 6.5 per cent against August 2005, and figures for the period January-August of this year fell by 2.4 per cent.
This year, the only major markets to record an increase were Russia, Ireland and the UAE, with Britain, the island’s key market falling 5.3 per cent in August and Germany slumping 21.4 per cent in the first eight months of the year.
The theme of this year’s Tourism Day is ‘Tourism Enriches’, with CTO Chairman Panos Englezos telling a news conference: “Tourism is the powerhouse of our economy and a very important employer. We should look at it not only in terms of economic figures but as a form of social and cultural enrichment, something that helps with the understanding and appreciation among different nations.”
As far as arrivals from specific markets are concerned, the UK holds top market share with 56.3 per cent, with the average length of stay at 10.43 days.
According to last year’s CTO annual report, “tourism’s sustainable development creates the conditions for the growth and prosperity of our country and society. Our Strategic Plan, now in its third year of implementation, has already yielded positive results.”
In spite of the crisis in the international tourist market, the report claims Cyprus tourism has succeeded in showing a reversal of the negative trends. Last year was the third best year in respect of the number of tourist visitors. By 2020, tourist arrivals could double their present number, the CTO believes.
“Through the Strategic Plan, our vision is to transform the island into a quality tourist destination by satisfying the various interests and expectations of the visitor and simultaneously securing a sustainable improvement in the quality of life for the local people,” the report added.
The action plan envisages the establishment of major tourism infrastructure projects, such as golf courses, marinas, conference facilities and thematic parks. The development of religious, conference, cultural, health and agro tourism is also envisaged.
Responding to market developments, the CTO is implementing a comprehensive action programme aimed at highlighting, in a multi-faceted way, the uniqueness of the island’s cultural identity.
Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation said that over the past half century, “tourism – travel for leisure and for business – has grown into a mainstream global activity. Today, tourism is one of the largest, fastest growing industries and the dominant service sector, bringing pleasure and added value to the lives of hundreds of millions of people.
“Tourism is now well recognised as one of the key ways to bring wealth and experience from the richest to the poorest countries, particularly as it increasingly intersects with information technology.”
The CTO is this year celebrating its 35th birthday.
