Filenews 1 March 2023 - by Dora Christodoulou
By the end of this month, the full presentation to institutions and organizations for the projects related to the "Capital of Smart Tourism 2023", a European institution whose nomination was undertaken by the European Union for this year by Paphos and Seville, will be completed. At the same time, information about the anointing undertaken by Paphos has already begun outside Cyprus, with the aim of receiving the greatest possible publicity for this development in order for the city to reap economic benefits during the upcoming tourist season.
Speaking to "F", the president of the Pafos Region Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAP), Kyriakos Droussiotis, pointed out that all the activities of the body related to this development are already at a very advanced stage. In this context, he observed, the Company has already prepared an enhanced budget and action plan for 2023 with emphasis on the pillars defined through the National Strategy for the creation of a sustainable Tourist Destination and the increased requirements resulting from the proclamation of Paphos as the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2023.
"The approval of the Budget and the Action Plan for 2023 and the examination of a number of issues and initiatives intertwined with the promotion and actions for the European Capital of Smart Tourism, were already presented during the last General Assembly of the body that took place just before Christmas", stressed Kyriakos Droussiotis. "The action plan emphasizes on the upgrading of the product and the experience offered, the digitization of information and the use of new technologies, as well as the intensive campaign inside and outside Cyprus to promote the destination".
Regarding the anointing of the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2023, said the president of the ETAP, it was also decided to cooperate with Neapolis University Pafos to carry out a study highlighting the myth of Aphrodite throughout the province and a study for the preparation of a Digital marketing strategy for the destination.
"In addition," he concluded, "the 2023 ETAP budget has already been approved, while the 2023 Action Plan has been presented and approved, information on funding programs and claiming more than 850 thousand euros from various proposals and programs. At the same time, the ETAP decided to examine and send specific requests to various Ministries in order to secure funding due to various other needs due to the title of European Capital of Smart Tourism".
