Filenews 12 April 2021 - Pambos Vasilas
After the Troodos area and in the free Famagusta, local authorities are asking to open up the local hotel industry for Cypriots in order to get oxygen for the local economy.
Speaking yesterday to "F" the mayor of Ayia Napa, Christos Zannetou, stressed that the request does exist, as Famagusta province is in a more difficult situation than other areas of the island, since its population data do not allow it to open restaurants, taverns and other leisure facilities. This, he stressed, applies not only to Ayia Napa and Protaras, but also to the rest of Kokkinochoria, which may not have tourist accommodation, but have food and entertainment facilities, both for tourists and locals, many of which remain closed, or open only on weekends. Even those few premises that dared to function, he added, rely on claws and teeth to keep them open to the few locals.
Given that we are now headed into the second half for a significant number of tourist arrivals, the above arrangement, in combination with the existing one in operation, Holiday Plan for Cypriots, would also help in addition to hotels and other tourist facilities in the free Famagusta, said the mayor of Ayia Napa. In other words, he explained, sectors such as agriculture and small and medium-sized enterprises in clothing, footwear, souvenirs, etc., which also suffer.
The mobility that would create such a prospect continued by Mr Zannetou, would have other multiple indirect benefits. That is, an opportunity to work for some citizens, a change in psychology for the better for the local population since it would to some extent overturn the images of desolation that it has so far seen. In addition, the citizens themselves are now looking for a change of psychology and most would not say no to a short vacation in a hotel, or even stay for a weekend, for a change in their psychology added.
Pointing out that this measure would also be accompanied by the opening of the beaches, Mr Zannetou stressed that his statements did not mean "abolishing everything and causing chaos in order to benefit Famagusta, which may suffer the most from other provinces". But, all work through the current laws and decrees, even when it comes to conducting rapid tests, for those who will want to stay for some time in a hotel in the area. Moreover, Mr Zannetou said, the epidemiological picture of Famagusta has been good for a long time and this justifies the implementation under strict health conditions of the proposal which he puts on the table. "And let us not forget that, when in 2020 hotels on a pancyprian basis worked, they proved that they can effectively and reliably manage the issue of measures to prevent the spread of the pandemic," he concluded.
Barrier to paratourism
Confirming that he himself had become a receiver of complaints, Mr. Zannetou said that helping hotels and tourist apartments in Famagusta to open would also put a stop to another phenomenon that has recently begun to occur. That is, advertising on tourist online platforms for luxury villas or apartments in Cyprus owned by foreigners, for rental purposes for the next period in Cyprus. Foreigners who rent to foreigners, betting on the opening of the skies on the one, but also on the fact that for the time being the giant of the tourism industry in Famagusta remains inactive.
