Filenews 19 January 2021
The plans for the new tourist product of Cyprus were presented before the Parliamentary Committee on Energy, Trade Industry and Tourism, the Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios, who in some parties created satisfaction, while in others caused concern. As the Secretary of State explained, in the first months of 2021 there are no expectations of a tourist flow.
In a statement after the Commission meeting, Mr Perdios said that following the briefing made to the Council of Ministers last week he also informed the Parliament of this year's action plan of the Ministry of Tourism, in the context of the implementation of the National Tourism Strategy.
He recalled that this year's action plan includes 3 pillars: Promotion and marketing, in which the largest digital campaign ever for Cyprus abroad will be carried out, the upgrading of infrastructures with emphasis on the specific forms of tourism in which many incentive projects for specific forms of tourism, such as cycling, cultural spaces, leisure centres, were announced. , wine tasting centres and others and improving the competitiveness of rural and mountain areas, which are a very important parameter in the implementation of the national tourism strategy.
He reiterated that the Ministry of State's vision is to link tourism particularly in the mountains and countryside with all relevant businesses and activities, such as crafts, crafts, agriculture, crafts,
Continuing, the Deputy Minister of Tourism said that a lot of work had been done in relation to legislation regulating issues relating to the tourist product and referred to the legislation under way on camping sites, noting that in this area "we are entering a new era as more and more people are interested in spending time in nature". He expressed confidence that camping tourism is a product for which Cyprus can compete with claims.
He said that new ones have been added to this tourism product, in addition to what we knew until now, which are glamping camps and we will be at everyone's disposal to introduce legislation that can respond with claims in the future. In the final stage of the processing, opinions will be requested from various bodies and will then be submitted to the legal service for legal processing with a view to implementation next year 2022.
He noted that it is very important and very interesting for Cyprus.
He also said that on 1 March, as is the decision of the Council of Ministers, the skies will open, meaning that passengers from 56 countries will be able to visit Cyprus without being placed on a 14-day restriction, unless they are positive for tests on arrival and will also not be denied entry. It clarified that it is an amended categorization compared to that in force in 2020.
Continuing he said that the categories of countries will now be green, orange, red and explained that passengers from countries that are in the green category will not have to undergo tests, in the orange category passengers will have to test before travelling to Cyprus and in the red category passengers will have to undergo tests before their departure to Cyprus as well as on arrival in Cyprus.
Mr Perdios expressed the view that the decided categorization would provide stability and breathe new life into demand. "I say the latter because in the first months of the tourist year we should not expect to have anything particularly important in terms of arrivals," he added.
In response to a question he said it is too early to estimate, all countries are in the middle of a second or third wave of the pandemic and it is difficult for anyone to decide to travel today, or in February or March. "There is a reluctance from our partners abroad to specifically state what the programme they expect to be followed this year," he added, and expressed the view that there will be a clearer picture in the coming weeks.
Asked about the health passport, Mr Perdios said that at the moment it is just an idea around which discussions are taking place at European level. "To be honest there are quite a few reactions, there are those who want it and those who don't," he continued, and expressed the view that "it is not something essential that needs commenting."
The Chairman of the Trade Committee Andreas Kyprianou, speaking at the CYPE said satisfaction because as he said with the new strategic plan Cyprus will not only be a tourist destination of sun and sea and focused only on hotel tourism but also many other actions are involved, which are essentially changing the tourist product of Cyprus by targeting mountainous Cyprus, on the traditional paths , in traditional products and much more, on the streets of wine.
This is particularly encouraging because we believe it will lead beyond the increase in the tourist flow and the fight against urbanism, which plagues the countryside, he said.
He also said that the Commission was informed of the new logo for the promotion of the Cypriot tourist product and described as important the fact that the strategic plan, which will extend the tourist season and increase the quality of the tourist product, is being implemented at 100%.
Mp and President of the Movement of Ecologists – Citizens' Cooperation Charalambos Theopetou said after the session that for the Movement the most important thing is to be able to benefit from the revenues of tourism everyone in Cyprus wherever they are and are active.
In order to achieve this objective we would like to see programmes that promote the economic development of mountain areas, especially the Akamas regions, so that residents can have incomes, have tourists who move throughout Cyprus and have the right and fair distribution of income from tourism throughout Cyprus and all the communities that currently have problems related even to their survival Said.
Asked to take a position on the proposed regulation for luxury camps, Mr Theopetou recalled that for months the Movement had tabled a proposal for a law regulating the operation of the camps.
"I have a great concern about the creation of large and luxurious camps," he said, clarifying that he is not against it, but as he clarified "we have to be extremely careful."
Continuing to remind us that the camps in the forest are done with the help and cooperation of the Department of Forests, he added that we are concerned about their inclusion in the forest, the activities they will include, the number of people to host and clearly we do not want to allow and see camps that will cause nuisance, in the wild and the forest and are contrary to the protection of the environment.
Eyenews/AFP
