A chance to RAISE cultural awareness in Cyprus has been given to the island with the Association for the Study of Travel in Egypt and the Near East (ASTENE) holding its conference at the Famagusta Gate in Nicosia today and tomorrow, with free entrance to members of the public.
ASTENE, which was established by university professors and lecturers from around the world in 1997, is an organisation that encourages and promotes education and learning with particular reference to the history of travel and travellers in Egypt and the Near East. Bringing together anyone interested in the subject, whether a professional academic or not, across a wide spectrum of nations and subject areas, the association acts as a focus for the collection of materials and information and contacts related to its object.
In order to promote its aims, the Association holds conferences every two years in Britain and occasional conferences overseas, seminars, exhibitions, lectures, and visits; it publishes papers, newsletters, books and journals. It also initiates and encourages research and essentially acts as a focus for the collection of materials and information and contacts related to its object.
During the conference, papers and speeches shall be given by members of the association from the United Kingdom, Germany, Austria, Malta, Tunisia, Canada and Cyprus.
The programme, which spans over two days, offers lectures by various academics, highlighting subjects like Touring Cyprus in the 18th century, Victorian travel writing, Turkish baths in Cyprus and Ezbekieh in the 19th century, as well as many others.
One of the organisers who had a key role in in Nicosia’s hosting of the conference is Dr Rita C. Severis. “We hope to promote the very rich cultural significance of Cyprus with this conference in Nicosia,” she said yesterday. “Cyprus has had enough promotion for things like discos and areas like Ayia Napa. There is so much more to Cyprus than just partying. This conference gives Cyprus the chance to raise itself in this sector.”
Severis pointed out the important aspects that could arise from the conference, ”There are many good aspects about this conference. Because the people involved will be doing thorough research into Cyprus history, we could discover new and interesting things about our island. That in turn could prompt other factors to come into the equation like, for example, sociology, anthropology and literature.”
Stressing the importance of Cyprus history, Severis continued: “Cyprus has a very rich history with the main difference in comparison to other Mediterranean countries being that we have had so many different conquerors. Famagusta, for example, has arguably the largest in variety of historical mediaeval monuments in the Mediterranean, and surprisingly enough not that many locals know that fact.”
Cyprus Tourism Organization (CTO) spokesman Pantelis Ioannides said the CTO was always keen to encourage such activities. “The CTO always salutes important conferences like this in Cyprus. Conference Tourism is a basic target for us and it is important for our tourism strategy.
“Cyprus is a place of interest and culture and we have more to offer than just sandy beaches and sunshine.”
