July tourist arrivals down 11.2 per cent
TOURISM arrivals fell 10.9 per cent in the first seven months of the year, reflecting an economic downturn which has pushed the holiday island into recession. In July alone, arrivals fell 11.2 per cent year on year.
The sector, which generates revenue approximating between 10 and 11 per cent of Cypriot gross domestic product, saw heavy declines in arrivals from Britain, its main market, and Russia.
Until July 2009, arrivals of tourists totalled 1.18 million, compared to 1.33 million over the same period in 2008, the statistics department said yesterday.
Local industry representatives say the outlook for the sector is weak and that government incentives to prop up the industry were late in coming.
“From our hotel figures we have an average decline in stays of about 15 per cent,” said Lakis Avraamides, marketing manager for tourism in Ayia Napa and Protaras, an area which draws approximately 42 to 44 per cent of overall Cyprus arrivals.
“August is slow, and September bookings are also down,” he said.
Cyprus is technically in a recession, with second quarter GDP figures issued last week showing negative growth of 0.5 per cent on a quarterly basis from -0.6 per cent in Q1.
Authorities have not issued fresh forecasts on yearly growth rates since May, when they forecast the island’s economy would grow 1.0 per cent.
Cyprus introduced a €51 million support package for tourism this year which included tax breaks, but the industry has said it was late in coming to incorporate into holiday packages to make them more competitive.
“We were negotiating this year’s (holiday) contracts in August 2008. We could have done better if we got better offers to the market early enough,” Avraamides said. (R)
Cyprus protests air space violations
DEPUTY PERMANENT Representative to the UN Louis Telemachou, in a letter to the UN Secretary General, protested the new violations of international air traffic regulations and the national airspace of Cyprus by Turkish military aircraft, recorded between June 1 and July 31.
In his letter, which was circulated as a General Assembly document, Telemachou notes: “Turkey’s continuous policy violating international law and ignoring international norms and regulations continues to severely jeopardise the safety of international civil aviation and further contributes to the sense of insecurity on the island.”
Turkey, now serving as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, he added , “should abide by the Charter of the United Nations and the Security Council resolutions, and refrain from its attempts to impose the de facto division of Cyprus”
Larnaca mother charged with neglect
A 25-YEAR-OLD mother has been charged with neglect and abuse of a child under two, after leaving her two children alone in the house.
The woman went to Nicosia on Wednesday night, leaving her four-year-old and 12-month-old sons at home in Larnaca.
The woman’s estranged husband went to the house at 1am yesterday morning. Discovering that his sons had been left alone, he alerted the police. The woman was arrested, charged in writing and released.
Man mugged in Ayia Napa hotel room
A 29 YEAR-OLD Norwegian man was mugged in the early hours of yesterday morning, in his own hotel room.
The incident occurred at around 3am yesterday, in a hotel in Ayia Napa.
The man was in his room with two Russian girls when two strangers walked in and attacked him. One of The men was holding a knife. The pair stole his laptop and various items of jewellery before fleeing.
The 29 year-old was transferred to the First Aid department of Paralimni hospital, where he was treated for scratches to his body caused by a sharp object.
According to the Famagusta CID “Unfortunately the man cannot give any description of his attackers, or of the Russian girls who were with him at the time. He was unable to give details about the girls or say why they were in his room because he was drunk and couldn’t remember.”
Famagusta CID is continuing to investigate the case.
Turkish man arrested in bid to get home
A YOUNG Turkish man was remanded in custody yesterday after illegally crossing into the government controlled areas – in a desperate bid to get home.
The man arrived in Cyprus a few weeks ago via Tymbou airport, intending to get a job in the occupied north. He failed to find work however, and soon ran out of money.
Unfortunately for him, he was even unable to earn enough money to pay for a ticket home.
He crossed into the government controlled areas on Wednesday, without travel documents. At 4.30pm he presented himself at the police station in Xylofagou. He informed the police that he was an illegal immigrant and asked them to deport him, saying his mother was sick.
He was remanded in custody yesterday by the Famagusta District Court.
English-language church becomes fully-fledged parish
A GREEK ORTHODOX Church, which was holding services in English for the past year, has been given the go ahead to become a fully-fledged parish as of next month.
Father Joseph Coleman, who has been serving the Divine Liturgy in English with the blessing of the Bishop of the Tamasos Metropolis, will be heading up the newly-ordained parish church.
“The English speaking Orthodox community will now be using the name ‘All Saints Greek Orthodox Church’ and will continue to meet at the old small church of St. Nikolaos in Pano Lakatamia for the foreseeable future,” Father Joseph said yesterday.
“It is the hope and desire of the community to one day build their own church,” he added.
As of September 1, Father Joseph and the community of All Saints Greek Orthodox Church will be serving all the services of the Orthodox Church in English.
There will be Sunday Divine Liturgy every Sunday morning between 8-10am with Saturday evening Vespers 6pm, as well as all Christmas Services and the services of Lent and those of Holy Week and Easter, in addition to other great feast day in the Orthodox calendar such as August 15.
Father Joseph and the community, which numbers between 150-200 people already hopes to build an active Community Life by providing a number of different programmes.
He said starting in September there would be a Mother’s and Toddler’s group every Tuesday morning from 9-12. “We would like to thank the owner of ELC, who will be providing games and toys for the kids,” he said.
Also, there will be an Open Discussion group every first and third Wednesday evening of the month. “In this group people are invited to come and share their questions about the Orthodox Church, it’s faith, teachings and practices, as well as the history of the Church,” Father Joseph said, adding that a Bible Study would be set up by the end of September. A Youth Program is also in the works from October, meeting once a week.
Noisy farms will be paid to move
Animal farmers will be compensated for demolishing farms that have been targeted as very noisy or a source of environmental pollution under the Agriculture Ministry’s new environment and social policy.
The plan, which was announced yesterday, is directed at farmers who operate noisy, pollutant animal farms with plans to give up farming instead of moving their premises to another area.
The government funded scheme will roll out over a five-year period until 2013 with a budget of €3.75 million. It was drawn up by the ministry as part of its environment and social policy and approved by the European Commission earlier this month.
The idea is to encourage animal farmers to have their farms demolished of their own volition becau
se the premises have been deemed very noisy or a source of pollution to the environment or the underground water supply. Farmers eligible to apply for compensation only include those who operate fully functioning animal farms in the last five years that have been targeted a nuisance.
Licensed farms will receive compensation in the region of 50 per cent of their current value while unlicensed farms will receive 30 per cent of their current value. An additional five per cent of the total compensation will be given to farmers to cover the demolition costs, removing any wanted materials and restoring the area to its initial condition. A further 10 per cent of the total compensation will also be offered as an incentive to have the farms demolished immediately.
Pesto-cide pasta removed from shelves
A major local flour and pasta manufacturer was yesterday instructed by the Health Ministry’s Public Health Services to withdraw one of its pasta products after higher than normal traces of an insecticide were found during routine screening.
Mitsides Ltd was ordered to withdraw its village macaroni sold in a 500g package with a best before date 30.06.2011 after traces of diazinon above the legal limit was found by the PHS.
Diazinon is used to control outdoor pests such as fleas, fire ants, cockroaches, chiggers and spiders. Poisoning from the insecticide has been known to cause headaches, gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms, blood pressure changes, convulsions and coma.
The Health Ministry advised consumers who had purchased the specific product to refrain from ingesting it.
The PHS had already informed the company regarding the problem with instructions for the product’s immediate recall and withdrawal from the market, it said.
In light of the finding the PHS had also extended its screening to the company’s other products already on the market as well as to its food production factory.
“If necessary it will take additional steps to protect public health,” a ministry announcement said.
All samples would be tested at the state lab, it added.
