PAPHOS is due to get a new tourist attraction in the form of an artificial reef, complete with a sunken ship, the first of its kind in Cyprus.
According to the head of the Paphos regional board of tourism, Nassos Hadjigeorgiou, the Paphos board, with the financial support of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), and in association with the Cyprus divers association, has bought a boat to be used as part of a man-made reef.
Hadjigeorgiou said: “We have now purchased the boat which is a first step to start developing the reef. Our aim is to develope diving tourism in the area and also to upgrade the tourist experience in Paphos.”
The boat, measuring around 25 metres in length, cost around€30,000 and is an old fishing vessel, bought from the Cyprus Ports Authority. The vessel will be sunk in the sea off the coast of Paphos under European standards and directives
The regional tourism manager said: “The next step is to secure an area for the reef. We are now developing a plan as to what the reef will include – we don’t want to unveil it just yet,” he added.
According to Hadjigeorgiou, the attraction will be the first of a number planned for the district.
“We have options which are being considered in three separate areas in Paphos and Polis which have been suggested by the fisheries department.”
The first is planned for an area, which will be easily accessible by visitors and tourists. The reef will be used by both divers and snorkellers.
He said: “We are planning the next steps and a meeting will be held on February 2 between all of the parties involved to discuss the details on how to proceed. These will include how to sink the boat and how to develop the reef.”
He added: “The target is to have a designated area, which will be closed before the summer and to begin development this year. I am not sure how long it will take to complete.”
The tourism manager stressed the aim of the parties involved was to have all three areas developed within the next three years.
‘If, in the future, we feel that we need more artificial reefs, we will re- examine the project,” he said.
Hadjigeorgiou continued: “This is a first for Cyprus and the boat is only one part of the project. We will also bring experts from abroad to Paphos to share their ideas with us on how to set the project up as a technical attraction in its own right.”
The tourism manager said the project would be unique, and its theme would remind people of the mythology of Paphos and its traditions.
“This project will help us to reach our goals and enrich the tourist product as well as making
Paphos one of the popular diving destinations in the Mediterranean,” he said. “It will also add to the enrichment of marine life and the underwater environment.”
