Cyprus hosts 1st International Conference on Religious Tourism

Cyprus is organising and hosting these days the first International Conference on Religious Tourism, which is taking place in Nicosia. The conference, the first of its kind, aims at bringing together stakeholders and organisations involved in the field as well as focus on key issues and provide networking opportunities for interested parties.

The conference is organised by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) in cooperation with the UN World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with delegates from Cyprus, Greece, Britain, USA, Luxembourg, Norway, Tibet, Egypt, Mexico, Israel, Japan, the Czech Republic, Spain, Russia, Portugal and Syria.

In his inaugural address on Thursday, Cypriot Minister of Commerce, Tourism and Industry Antonis Michaelides noted that the conference will promote religious tourism and reassured that the government of Cyprus will systematically work in this direction.

He also called upon all delegates to exert their influence in order to help save the religious history of the churches and monasteries now under Turkish occupation, which are part of the world heritage and are under a serious threat from the Turkish army.

In his speech, CTO President Panos Egglezos said that religious tourism should respect all religious sites of every country and added that CTO’s aim is to make Cyprus an example of religious tourism.

On behalf of the General Secretary of the World Tourism Organisation, Luigi Cabrini, who is the Regional Representative for Europe, described the conference as very important and congratulated Cyprus for its initiative.

In his address on behalf of the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew and the Holy Synod of Cyprus Bishop of Tremythous Vasilios said that the motives of religious tourism should not be economic or commercial, but rather spiritual and should contribute to combating fanaticism among religions.

In his address Bishop of Mexico and Exarch of Central America and the Caribbean Isles, Colombia and Venezuela Athinagoras noted the need for an understanding between peoples of different religions, especially ”in these crucial times.”

On behalf of Archbishop of Athens and All Greece Christodoulos, Archimandrite Spyridon Katramados said that religious tourism should offer ”healing of the soul” and should aim at achieving peace in the world and respect for other religions.

Stavros Makariou, on behalf of the Greek Ministry of Tourism, referred to Greece‘s actions to promote religious tourism.

An array of renowned speakers from all over the world, experts in the field of Religious Tourism, are participating in the conference.

The intensive, information-filled programme topics to be covered include the development of special interest tourism, best practices, new trends and the respect and protection of places of worship.

The programme will also include technical visits to sites of religious and cultural significance in Cyprus.