CTO Director General says Cyprus wants to excel in tourism sector

Director General of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) Phoebe Katsouris said on Thursday that every year was ''proving more difficult and more challenging'' for Cyprus in the tourist sector, noting that ''we do not just want to do well, we want to excel.''

Addressing the 22nd Conference of the Central Council of the World Federation for Overseas Cypriots (POMAK) and the International Coordinating Committee Justice for Cyprus (PSEKA), and the 4th Conference of the World Organisation for Young Overseas Cypriots (NEPOMAK) in Nicosia, Katsouris said overseas Cypriots have a role to play in promoting the island as a tourist destination.

''I promise that CTO will inform you regularly on our forthcoming projects, activities, cultural events etc and I will welcome any suggestions, ideas and feedback from you. You are the future and we look upon you with confidence to carry Cyprus forward wherever you are,'' she added.

Katsouris referred to various forms of tourism, such as medical, sports, religious, cultural and agrotourism, as well as efforts towards ''green'' products and e-Marketing, and pointed out that CTO ''successfully implemented the European pilot project European Destinations of Excellence and, following a national competition, the mountain region of Troodos was the winner of the Eden 2007 Award as Best Emerging Rural European Destination.''