Active steps to improve industry

THE ASSOCIATION of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) yesterday warned that Cyprus tourism industry would continue its downturn spiral if steps were not immediately taken to upgrade and improve the island’s image as a tourism destination.

The warning was made at ACTA’s 53rd Annual General Meeting in Nicosia.

The AGM focused on measures and suggestions regarding the future of the Cyprus tourism industry and what steps were necessary to bring tourism back to a steady upward climb.

ACTA president Akis Kelepeshis said the association actively participated in everything related to travel and tourism and exercised a responsible policy regarding tourism.

Kelepeshis outlined a few of the problems today’s tourism faced including competition, an aging tourism product, the lack of an identity, an increase in management costs and a weakness in completing large development projects.

To help combat the problems, Kelepeshis called for the formation of an independent Tourism Ministry, the inclusion of large private tourism institutions in the governing boards of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and state airlines, an improvement and differentiation in the CTO’s role, and a significant improvement in competitiveness.

The association president also called for the completion of tourist infrastructure works and the speeding up of more quality workers, greater budgets to market and advertise Cyprus’ tourism abroad, and the improvement of local hotels.

He said: “Foreign airlines have already warned us about a possible reduction in flights mainly due to the fact that tour operators believe that due to the cost, Cyprus will be classed as an uneconomical tourism destination.”

Kelepeshis expressed the hope that negotiations between Hermes Airports, airline companies and the government would come up with a solution. I

Meanwhile it was announced that ACTA will hold the presidency for the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations from May 2008-2010.

Commerce, Trade and Tourism Minister Antonis Michaelides, CTO president Panos Englezos and Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE) president Manthos Mavrommatis also attended the AGM.
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The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.