Forestry Department spruces up Troodos
DISCOVERING the authentic Cyprus of a bygone age is a key element in a series of new measures to promote tourism in the mountains.
The project, bolstered by upgrading picnic sites and cycling and footpaths, has been undertaken by the CTO, the Forestry Department and the Regional Development Company of Troodos to promote the mountains as a more sustainable, environmentally conscious and cultured breed of tourism.
“The improvements are focused on a sustainable development of the area that will preserve and promote both the natural and cultural aspects of the region,” said Panayiotis Papadopoulos, a board member on the Regional Development Company and a local expert assigned to orchestrate the touristic development of the region.
The measures cover the entire mountain range. From improved picnic sites to newly negotiated bike paths, the mountains are poised to experience a resurgence of interest as a holiday destination both for foreign and local tourists. The additions to the already existing infrastructure are focused on the types of paths and recreational areas that can allow for an inconspicuous incursion into valleys of sprawling forest, cascading streams and flowing waterfalls.
There is already a bike rental centre in Platres, and a 57km cycle track connecting the village to Prodromos and Amiandou, which is scheduled to include Kakopetria, Finiou and Pedoula after the summer. The track is already in use by many tourists during the cooler seasons of autumn and spring.
Other upgrades that have already been established over the last couple of years are a small reservation near the Platania picnic site, which contains five adult wild moufflon and one young, allowing people to view the rare animals without having to travel to the more remote reserves in the north-west where seeing the animals in their natural environment can never be guaranteed.
Troodos National Park, which covers an area of 9,070 hectares, contains a huge amount of biodiversity and is now accessible by 11 pathways criss-crossing the area. There are also another five paths that are found outside the actual borders of the park.
Papadopoulos said a lot had been achieved over the last couple of years. “Hopefully, with EU funding, the enhancement of the attractions and facilities currently in existence will be able to be further improved.”
The redundancy of the island’s beaches during the off-season is also another incentive to fortify the mountains’ standing as a primary destination rather than the secondary, day-trip status it has.
“Local tourists account for 50 per cent of the visitors to the mountains,” said Papadopoulos who added that preserving the culture and authenticity of the place will also serve as a reminder to local people as to how life once was and how simple and relaxed it can still be.
Papadopoulos was keen to make it clear that the “upgrading of tourist facilities” will not translate as the construction of massive hotels in the middle of the island’s most untouched landscape.
“We are trying to create a clear annual schedule of the events that will be taking place throughout the region. These include food festivals, wine festivals, as well as other cultural events. There are also plans to make to make a traditional wine centre, food centre and handicraft centre in Marathas operational year-round,” he said.
SIDEBAR
In Cyprus, it is often said that there are two types of people; those who like the beach, and those who prefer the mountains.
Like the relatively recent motorways that lead to and along the island’s coasts, the beach provides a fast route to that sense of relaxation and true departure from the humdrum of normal life so avidly sought by city-dwellers the world over.
But the mountains, on the other hand, possess a mysterious, fractionally-more elusive prize of tranquillity that once discovered and appreciated, has the power to enchant in a way that laying inactive on a mass of scorching sand by the water simply cannot.
The importance and sheer brilliance of trees is something that people often forget or even scoff at; viewing their appreciation as nothing more than a frivolous preoccupation of greenies and hippies.
This of course couldn’t be further from the truth. Andreas Koutalianos from the Forestry Department, explains how “a 250-acre forest can absorb 60-70 tonnes of dust, 6-10 tonnes of carbon dioxide, and can produce 12-20 tonnes of oxygen”.
Even without the human attractions, it is worth climbing the higher ground to enjoy the views, cool off and breathe deep.
