DESPITE repeated requests by the president of the Paphos beaches committee to keep beaches open in winter, measures are well underway to close them down for the coming months.
The President of the Paphos beaches committee, Nicos Similides, told the Cyprus Mail the situation was absurd. “We are advertising that we have mild winters in Cyprus, and encouraging tourists to visit the island, and yet they’re unable to enjoy the seaside safely during the winter, it make no sense,” he charged.
The Cyprus tourism organisation promotes Cyprus as, “the year-round island”, and spends a large amount of money promoting the island’s beaches and warm clear waters across the world. More than 2.5 million tourists visit Cyprus every year.
“It seems very wrong to me, that we are trying to have more tourists to the island and promote something which we are unable to give,” he said.
On Monday in Paphos, the red buoys marking areas in the sea were taken out.
“The life guards will no longer be manning beaches, they only work until the end of October, and this means without the safety buoys and life guards, people won’t be able to use the sea safely.
If you look at the beaches,” he said, “they are still be used by many people regularly all year round. People want to swim and sunbathe. Both the locals and tourists,” he advised.
Similides added, “we advertise, ‘come to Paphos; go for a swim’, and yet we are also telling them not to go, as it isn’t safe.”
Each year, prior to the beginning of the season, the representatives of the beaches committees across Cyprus meet with the relevant government officials, and every year the same request is made.
“It seems to fall on deaf ears,” said Similides. “For the last two years I’ve attended these meetings in my capacity of president of the beaches committee for Paphos, and all I hear are promises.”
There are six blue flag spots in Paphos this season, and Similides agues that it isn’t necessary to open them all.
“I propose to keep the most popular beaches open in Paphos. I would say the top two are Bania and Sodap beaches. We could provide buoys, sun beds, lifeguards, and all the facilities at selected beaches. It would keep costs at a reasonable level, and enable the locals and visitors to use the beach.”
He continued, “our economy is dependent on the tourist trade, and we need to meet the demand. The government may be counting the costs, but in the long run it would cost us much more if there were an accident of some sort, it would really affect tourism.”
Similides stated that the government assured they would examine the proposal, but as yet, he hasn’t received any further contact on the issue.
“It’s not just about the beaches in Paphos,” he underlined. “Cyprus is an island, and the government must do something for each district.”
He stressed, “we have to give this service. It’s the simplest of facilities to provide. The amount is really negligible in the big picture.”
“In January, we will meet with the government again, prior to the 2009 season, and again I will put my suggestions forward. I will also write another letter, and this time I hope for a positive response.”
