Filenews 24 May 2021 - by Dora Christodoulou
It was undoubtedly one of the most successful actions of the Social Participation Programme of the European Capital of Culture Paphos 2017. The reason for the Routes and Traces Programme. An action that was primarily aimed at getting to know new places, through a different tour. The routes followed traces of memory and history and chose as landmarks the places hidden, and explored everything that was not visible at first glance, ie what we do not see during our usual tours of the province.
And the Capital of Culture may now be a distant memory and the declarations that its legacy will continue to prove to date to be empty, however, the emergence of the "hidden treasures" of the Pafian countryside continues by other bodies. Like the Association of Tourism Development and Promotion of the Region of Paphos (ETAP) and the Hellenic Ministry of Tourism, which in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism have included in their planning for a year the promotion and tourist exploitation of areas of the province with rare natural beauties, which were however unknown to visitors.
Despite the pandemic and the restrictions it has imposed over the last 15 months, the programme to highlight the unknown corners of Paphos province continues without interruption, essentially reinventing the edge of the thread with the enormous work already done by "Paphos 2017".
Speaking today to "F", the head of the relevant programme of the Organization for the European Capital of Culture, Matthew Ierokipiotis, stressed that in 2017 there were a total of five actions, in Episkopi, Amareti, Lysos, Kedares and Panagia, which exceeded all expectations since each time there was a "battle", for the 200 lucky ones who had the opportunity to watch the program each time.
"On the very positive side was that Cypriots from every corner of Cyprus took part, who came especially to the Capital of Culture to follow an excursion but also many foreigners," he said. "At the end of the day all these were the "yeast" for today's efforts to bring to light and in our everyday life areas of Paphos that were unknown to most, despite their unique beauty".
For example, says Mr. Ierokipiotis, the program of the Social Participation of the Organization "Paphos 2017", met in Cypriot and foreign travelers the famous "Meteora of Cyprus" and the church of Agios Hilarion, in the community of Episkopi, with the excellent walking route to the Valley of Eousa, which is full of hidden treasures, such as watermills, Venetian bridges, chapels and ruined villages, such as the Turkish Cypriot village.
"In Amareti," he also says, "the Museum of Folk Tradition, housed in the restored Turkish Cypriot school and the Museum of Photography with unpublished historical photographs, has come to the fore. We met the traces of the Knights in the area of Gerolakkos, where the Feud was and where there has been some restoration work.
In Lysos we discovered the ancient Greek settlements of Asia Minor, as confirmed by a wealth of findings and testimonies, and in the village of Kedares, where according to the myths in antiquity King Nikoklis, had his country house, everyone saw up close the famous bridge of Gilefou and the beautiful natural environment of the valley of Diarizos".
Aim to attract domestic tourism
The Paphos Region Tourism Development and Promotion Company (EFF) announced last week the launch of a campaign, following the restart of the economy, aimed at attracting domestic tourism which is expected to escalate at the beginning of July and be completed around 12 August.
"The Cyprus promotion campaign is supported by the Deputy Minister of Tourism, covers the entire province of Paphos and includes an organized intensive campaign on social media," it stressed. "Paphos expects with the parallel efforts of tourism professionals and the Deputy Minister of Tourism to continue to be as always in the first preferences of the residents of Cyprus for holidays within the island".
The institutions of the province invite with the campaign the inhabitants of Cyprus to visit the beautiful countryside, Akamas and the villages of Laonas, the beautiful coastline from Neos Chorio to Pyrgos Tylliria, the wine villages, to Paphos. Magical moments, to explore the unparalleled beauty of nature, to swim in the crystal clear seas and enjoy every hospitable corner of Paphos province.
"A wide range of hotel/tourist accommodation is expected to reopen in the coming days and offer various accommodation packages at attractive prices," says the EFF. "Tourist and food businesses, municipal beaches, similar infrastructure and services are feverishly preparing for reopening, while the destination now gives thousands of domestic visitors the opportunity to visit the area and live unique, carefree moments".
