Filenews 9 November 2023
"Extremely satisfied", said the Deputy Minister of Tourism about the results of the contacts made this week in London in the framework of the annual major tourism exhibition World Travel Market (WTM).
The target set to increase the availability of flights to Cyprus by key players in the British tourism market has been achieved, as announced by the Deputy Minister.
The at least 35 appointments he had booked before his arrival in the British capital, as well as the crowd of professionals who flocked all these days to the stands of Cypriot co-exhibitors, are considered indications of the positive prospects for tourism in the country in 2024 as well.
Speaking shortly before his departure from London, the Deputy Minister of Tourism said that "we depart London and WTM extremely satisfied with all the contacts we have had".
"We came here with the aim and goal of achieving a reasonable increase in the number of positions offered to our country and we have achieved it, therefore we are very pleased," he said.
According to Costas Koumis, "the decision of the giants of the British tourism market to extend their summer program until November 15 is something very encouraging for tourism in Cyprus, as it helps our own effort to extend the tourist season."
The Deputy Minister then referred to specific agreements concluded within the framework of WTM.
"We consider easyJet's decision to place flights from Belfast, Northern Ireland, to be extremely important news for our country's tourism, it was a demand of the market. It is essentially satisfied. But very important news is also the placement of flights from Glasgow, Scotland," he said.
At the same time, he added, "we welcome British Airways' decision to convert Gatwick to Larnaca routes to year-round routes."
It is, Koumis said, "another piece of news that also helps our effort to extend the tourist season with the ultimate goal of transforming Cyprus into a year-round tourist destination."
The Deputy Minister was accompanied in the report by executives of the Deputy Ministry. The co-exhibitors consisted of 55 tourism enterprises, as well as tourism bodies such as PASYXE, STEK, ACTA etc.
Apart from meetings with tourism organizations and airlines, Koumis also had contact with the Minister of Tourism of Greece Olga Kefalogianni, with whom they exchanged views on the course of tourism, while at the same time they discussed methods of strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
In addition, Mr. Koumis gave interviews to foreign and community media.
On Wednesday, in a modest ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Tourism honored our compatriot well-known businessman John (Yiannis) Christodoulou as a sign of honor and recognition for organizing the successful contest "Love Cyprus" by the 'Yianis Christodoulou Foundation', which gave the opportunity to the young people of our country to get to know Cyprus better and to understand more deeply the importance of the tourism sector. while participating in a photography and filmography competition.
The Deputy Minister of Tourism also said that further developments are expected in the coming weeks regarding the placement of new routes by other airlines.
CNA
