Filenews 9 October 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
The spectacular restart of the tourism industry in Paphos, after three years, caused excitement among those involved in the sector, but not complacency. There are continuous contacts and initiatives of the Association of Owners of Paphos Recreation Centers (SIKAP) in order to promote solutions to the problems of the sector and the creation of a safe operating framework under any conditions.
The president of SIKAP, Angelos Onisiforou, stressed that the pandemic maximized the problems that the recreation centres were already facing, resulting in many of them closing down, unable to cope with the difficulties created on an economic level by the coronavirus.
In order for the catering industry to be structured on a more solid basis, the Association holds meetings with competent bodies. "Issues such as electricity sponsorship for businesses as well, the reduction of insurance contributions, the abolition of the 10% unit, the training of foreigners working in the recreation centres, but also issues of a local nature, were some of the things that as SIKAP we put before the Pafos MPs, who for their part assured that through the appropriate actions they will highlight them in the Parliament. SIKAP will continue its contacts with co-competent bodies and actors and upon their completion will announce to its members in detail the issues raised and the actions that will be taken to promote them", said Mr. Onisiforou.
Of particular importance in the context of these processes is the unhindered and continuous cooperation with hoteliers, who are the other important pillar of tourism in the district of Paphos. "In this context," he pointed out, "we had a meeting a few days ago with the president of PASYXE Paphos, Thanos Michaelides. We examined various tourism issues of Paphos," he said, "with a view to jointly promoting them. The most important of them during this period are the training seminars that must be held to foreigners working in the tourism industry, the further promotion of Paphos abroad, the development of winter tourism, especially now with the energy crisis in Europe, and various others. Mr. Michaelides showed interest and the contacts between the two sides will continue." We are optimistic that there will be a permanent and efficient cooperation between SIKAP and PASYXE to promote our tourism product, concluded Angelos Onisiforou. The issues and problems we face in general are common and we should together promote them for resolution.
"In the last two years the recreation centres have had a very difficult time due to the pandemic," Angelos Onisiforou said. "A lot of them couldn't cope and locked up. From the very first moment, together with the Pancyprian Federation of Associations of Owners of Recreation Centers, we fought and continue to fight great battles to help our members and the recreation centres in general to get back on their feet".
In addition to the problems faced in their operation by the recreation centres of Pafos, a significant problem is created in their image and operation by a social phenomenon that is growing lately in Paphos, with very worrying dimensions.
This is the issue of illegal immigrants, stresses the president of SIKAP, and the very serious problems that seem to be created by immigrants, of African origin, residing in Paphos. The president of the Association of Owners of Paphos Recreation Centers officially made serious complaints a few days ago, stressing that the complaints that the representatives of the industry now receive from tourists who spend their holidays in the city and province are fierce.
The complaints mainly have to do with harassment during the night in bars, clubs and nightclubs, stressed Mr. Onisiforou. Fights and beatings are also an almost daily occurrence, he complains. They harass girls in a vulgar and persistent way, not counting whether they are accompanied," she says. "These complaints have reached us for some time now and we as SIKAP have investigated the matter and we have seen the ugliness created in Paphos by the action of many immigrants. Of course, there are also a large number of immigrants of African origin who are trying to prevent such unpleasant situations."
The president of the owners of Paphos recreation centres called on those responsible to examine this serious problem immediately and provide solutions to the migration issue, because otherwise tourism in Paphos is expected to be greatly affected, he noted. Imagine what will happen if we see articles in the foreign press with all that is happening in Paphos starring immigrants", concluded Mr. Onisiforou.
They also knocked on the door of the Parliament
SIKAP completed a first round of contacts with the four Pafos MPs in order to promote the problems of the sector in the province. According to Mr. Onisiforou, the issues raised were the need to provide electricity for businesses as well, the reduction of insurance contributions, copyright, the abolition of the 10% unit, the training of foreigners working in recreation centres, but also issues of local character. Particular importance seemed to be attached by the representatives of Pafos to the Parliament, to the issue of copyright - related rights, noting that this problem has been of concern to the Parliament for many years and the corresponding progress has not yet been made. The representatives of SIKAP, its president stressed, recently had a meeting in this context with the President of the Parliament herself. The meeting with Annita Demetriou addressed issues such as the legislation on recreation centres, the 10% service allocation situation were requested by the recreation centres, the opening hours of the centres and the broadcasting of music. Our position is that the laws governing recreation centres should become more modern since times have changed. The meeting was constructive for SIKAP
