Small getaways, big experiences to boost domestic tourism

THE TOURISM Ministry in association with the CTO is offering reduced-price package deals for weekend getaways under their ‘Small getaways… big experiences’ project.  Prices start as low as €50 per person, including an overnight stay and meals.

The CTO said the main purpose of this offer is to get local residents to come to know Cyprus better, and to do so in comfort with a little luxury.

“It gives the opportunity to Cypriots to come to learn Cyprus, which they really do not know.” said Phoebe Katsouri, General director of the CTO.

From the ministry’s perspective, the scheme also forms part of a broad stimulus package to the local tourism sector during a time period when conditions are difficult and bookings are down.

Increasing domestic tourism is being viewed by the ministry and the CTO as a significant factor in the development of the tourism industry on the island.

The programme was started a year ago, and has been expanded for this year with the addition of new hotels and the inclusion this year of the mountain resorts. Last year over 1,000 people took advantage of the scheme.

“This gives us all the chance to escape from the daily grind and come to learn our home country better at very tempting prices,” commented Commerce and Tourism Minister Antonis Paschalides.

This year for the first time the scheme is also being opened to British Cypriots with flights being made available at discounted prices with a number of airlines for those Cypriots based in the UK who want to take advantage of the offer.

The offer runs from November 13 until June 30 next year and includes hotels ranging from 5 stars to smaller agrotourism apartments.

Guests also have the option of taking part in guided tours organised and paid for by the CTO.  The project is being run in association with Top Kinisis Travel. A booklet with complete details of the project is available from any CTO office and reservations can be made online at www.cyprusshortescapes.com.

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.