Filenews 9 August 2021 - by Dora Christodoulou
The dramatic upheavals that the pandemic has been bringing to the tourism and economic sector for almost two years now, acts in the province of Paphos as the reason for the return of its countryside to the fore. Seeking new strategies and proposals for the development of the tourism product, with an emphasis now also on domestic tourism, the institutions of the province, in cooperation with the state bodies, are now proceeding with projects and actions that promote the comparative advantage of the natural beauty and the preservation of the picturesque countryside.
The lack of a common identity and a common strategy has always been a problem for tourism operators. The correction of this "misspelling" was also on the basis of the action of the Ministry of Tourism to launch a tender for the promotion of the northwestern part of Cyprus.
Essentially, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism seeks to promote tourism in areas not developed so far by Pomos, Neo Chorio and Chrysochous Town with the villages of Androlykos, Kathikas, Crete Terra, etc.
The aim is to bring together all small communities under an umbrella that will have a single brandname, with which it will be established and attract external tourism markets. As stated in the relevant documents, the area needs a separate name in order to be promoted in its entirety by Stroumbi, Kathikas, Inia, Akamas and Pyrgos. There are suggestions such as "Cypriot Riviera", or "Aphrodite's Riviera", or "Akamas Riviera".
Today each community is promoted mostly individually by the relevant Authority. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, by promoting the hidden treasures of the region, the product offered will be upgraded and the tourist flow will increase in the communities of Akamas and thus create conditions for development in the region. The region can benefit from eco-tourism, agrotourism and health and wellness tourism.
This new approach was felt during these months of the pandemic with the constant visits and decisions to carry out projects in communities of mountainous and semi-mountainous Paphos by representatives of the Ministry of Tourism, the Society of Tourism Development and Promotion of the Region of Paphos (EFF), the Association of Hoteliers, the Hellenic Association of Paphos and other bodies.
Indicative of the specialization that is now promoted as a lure for the promotion of unique areas and the attraction of visitors to parts of Paphos outside the "tourist showcase", is the latest joint action of these bodies, concerning a specialized issue: Practical form is now taken by the Ministry of Tourism and the EFF Paphos to highlight the gorges of the Akamas peninsula. In this context, the first field visit to four gorges of the community of Arodos has already recently taken place.
The group that participated in the tour consisted of executives of the Paphos EFF, the official of the Ministry of Tourism, external partners of the EFF in the field of walking routes and the Community Leader Tharo Arodon. Within the framework of the visit, those involved were given the opportunity to cross the gorges of Kraminus, Irini, Dipotamos and Koufos and to experience the occult world of the gorges at first hand, as well as to exchange views and suggestions for their possible exploitation and integration into the tourist product of the province.
As it has been shown, the area has something very unique to offer and under conditions, several points from the gorges and the wider area could be integrated into the tourist experience and become another important attraction mainly of walkers and nature lovers, locals and foreigners.
The Paphos EFF plans in the coming days to record practical recommendations and proceed with preliminary planning and will then request the involvement and cooperation of the Department of Forests and other agencies involved for a more detailed examination of the whole issue.
The Laona-Akamas region has unique experiences to offer and there is a great deal of effort made in recent years to highlight its particular characteristics, upgrade existing infrastructure and enrich the experiences offered, says an EFF communication.
The Tourism Committee of the EBE Paphos has also recently intensified its contacts with Community Councils in order to record problems, exchange views and prioritise priorities and projects that will enrich the tourism product and help local communities.
In this context, President of the Tourism Committee of the EVE Paphos, Chrysis Chrysanthos, accompanied by the member of the Commission, Agathoklis Konstantinos and the Director of the EBE Paphos, Marino Stylianou, met with the Communities of Argakas and Pomos, Vangelis Stylianou and Spyros Pelopidas. During the meetings, the officials of the Paphos Chamber made it clear to the community leaders that the EBE is willing to support the actions of the Community Councils and to assist in any way it can in the maturation and implementation of infrastructure projects that will bring development in the region and strengthen the tourist flow.
Series of projects in communities
The promotion of the previously "forgotten" areas of the province is now being promoted with a series of projects carried out in each community of particular interest and activities.
Within the last two months, the construction contracts for the work of the core of the community were signed in the Paphos District Administration between the president of the Lysos Community Council and the contractor, for the amount of €527 thousand plus VAT with a duration of execution of 15 months.
As the Prefect of Paphos, Mary Lambrou, mentioned, the project includes the regeneration and landscaping of streets for the promotion of the traditional centre of the community. The project is included in the Budgets of the Paphos Provincial Administration for 2021 and 2022, he stressed, with a contribution of 10% from the Community Council. It is expected that with the upgrade of the kernel, conditions will be created for further development.
In Arodes, projects to shape the new central fabric of the village were also recently completed with the contribution of the Deputy Minister of Tourism and the EFF Paphos, with a visibly upgraded image of the square and the premises that now surround it. Improvements included replacing the plastic chairs and iron tables of the community café with traditional wooden equipment, removing the advertising colourful umbrella and replacing it with two heavy umbrellas that are consistent with the architecture and colours of the square, as well as planting flowers around the square. In addition, the rest of the urban equipment such as benches, bins, as well as replacement of metal plates was carried out.
BirdLife and Terrestrial Flora Information Center
A unique project in Cyprus, the BirdLife and Terrestrial Flora Information Center of the Akamas region, is the next enrichment project for the Paphos countryside, which will be created in Kathikas.
Speaking to "F", the Prefect of Paphos, Mary Lambrou, pointed out that with the completion of the entire project, the development will include information spaces with signs and other configurations as well as exhibits on the birdlife and terrestrial flora and habitats of Akamas, reception, office, sales, auxiliary spaces, sanitary and kitchen areas.
"The area of the building amounts to 210 sq.m. This is the old building of the SPC that was long-term granted to the Community Council of Kathikas, where the necessary improvements and additions will be promoted," he said.
