Filenews 8 January 2023 - by Dora Christodoulou
Despite the suspension of works of a number of tourist accommodations, the district of Paphos will have several thousand beds in full operation and will offer a wide range of accommodation and experiences with a capacity to accommodate more than 180,000 visitors this winter season until March 2023. This situation is satisfying to the tourist and economic operators of the province, since it removes the risk of a "desolation" of the province as had happened during the two winter periods of the pandemic.
The optimism in the city and province of Paphos for this winter season is also increased by some fortunate, for the region, circumstances that are judged by the local authorities as "manna from heaven". The first of these, concerns the undertaking of the anointing of the Capital of Smart Tourism 2023 recently awarded by the European Union to Paphos and Seville, a distinction that is taken for granted that will act as a starting point for the tourist return of Pafos to a pan-European stage, as had happened in 2017, with its operation as European Capital of Culture.
The second juncture that is considered to be a great reward for the province, is the recent announcement of the Incentive Scheme for Air Transport, which gives Paphos Airport an additional boost for significant results in visitor traffic in the post-tourist season.
In this positive climate, the preliminary study of PASYXE Paphos, STEK and individual hoteliers emerged, based on which about 8500 licensed beds will be in full operation for the winter months.
The president of PASYXE Paphos, Thanos Michaelides, observes, speaking to "F", that these 8500 beds constitute 70% of the beds that traditionally remained in full operation all year round and cover all categories of accommodation. Most suspensions, he points out, are limited to the months of December to February.
"Despite everyone's efforts, based on the data available, it is expected that this winter season will be quite difficult," he observes. "The bodies representing the province are focused on our goals: We enrich and qualitatively upgrade the experiences and services we offer, intensify efforts to expand the air connection and strengthen the promotion actions of the destination both in international markets and within Cyprus".
The departments of specialized tourism are gradually returning and give a further optimism for the realization of the goal that is to return the province in the coming years to full, all-year operation, says the president of Pafos hoteliers.
The nomination of the "European Capital of Smart Tourism" for 2023, which Pafos officially received on November 9th from the competent EU bodies in Brussels, is already being treated by the provincial bodies as a very important development, in proportion to the nomination of the European Capital of Culture in 2017, which is why they are working intensively towards the full preparation of the city and province for the landmark new year.
The publicity that Paphos will receive worldwide from its operation as the capital of "smart tourism", but also the huge importance that the tourism industry will have in 2023 after the complete end of the pandemic, as estimated, maximizes the importance and benefits for the Cypriot city from this decision of the European Union, the president of the Pafos Region Tourism Development and Promotion Company, Kyriakos Droussiotis, pointed out to "F".
"Similar pioneering procedures for our tourism product", he pointed out, "we have already been designing and promoting since the time of my tenure as president of the Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry when we were the first to establish ETAP throughout Cyprus as a collective tourism body of an area. We envisioned an organization that could implement innovative and modern plans for the benefit of Pafos and today's great success is the result of that ambitious goal".
The president of PASYXE Paphos also expressed satisfaction for this distinction to "F", pointing out its importance for the further upgrading of the image and reputation of the destination at a global level, as well as for the quality of the services provided in Paphos.
"This success", Thanos Michaelides stressed, "did not come by chance, it is the result of our intense and collective efforts in recent years. Paphos has been a pioneer for two years in the digital campaign for the promotion of its tourism, which we promote as ETAP and PASYXE Paphos, with the assistance of the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in international markets. It is now proven in practice that this effort is absolutely successful."
Paphos will now receive specialized communication and branding support for 2023. This will include the production of an advertising video, a specially designed hashtag sculpture for the city, as well as personalized promotional activities and visibility at European level and internationally. The advantage that the anointing entails for Paphos is appreciated as of enormous importance and value by the people of the province, which is why the preparations for Pafos to respond to the maximum possible extent have begun now.
THANOS MICHAILIDIS: Hoteliers ready
PASYXE Paphos considers winning the title of European Capital of Smart Tourism 2023 as an excellent opportunity to upgrade the image of Paphos internationally. For the hotel industry, says the president of the Association, Thanos Michaelides, this development means opportunities to upgrade the awareness of the destination, but also further commitment especially in the fields of sustainable development, digitalization and electronic presence of hotel accommodation and destination.
"Already, in recent years, several technological investments are being made in hotels, but also emphasis on the electronic presentation of the units and the destination with excellent results in the last two years", he emphasizes. "It is a great honour that Paphos along with other European cities are now role models for smart tourism in Europe and are at the top of the international rankings in terms of sustainability, innovation and the integration of smart practices." Thanos Michaelides wishes every success in the implementation of the action program in 2023, noting that PASYXE and the hoteliers of the area are ready to contribute always within the limits of their capabilities.
