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Singapore is the smallest nation in Southeast Asia and at 710 square kilometres is substantially larger than the sovereign city-states of Monaco and the Vatican City put together. It has no substantial tourist attractions, yet in the past 44 years of its independence, this highly cosmopolitan and diverse microstate has become the fifth wealthiest economy in the world in terms of GDP per capita.
Past rulers and present administrations have created a modern economy that is well diversified into industry, education, urban planning, transport and services.
Could Cyprus adopt, or at least imitate the Singapore success story? Theoretically, yes, as this island enjoys better weather, beaches and sights. But, in reality, bureaucracy and personal interest get in the way of everything.
There has been talk of plans for a Larnaca casino, a theme-park resort near Oroklini, more five-star hotels in Paphos. This government refuses to stand down from its objection to casinos, yet the minister in charge of tourism is furious over the delays in issuing permits for the grand marina project in Limassol. Even the new marinas in Larnaca and Paphos are farther way from being realised than ever before. So, who should care to visit?
When Bob Manning, the first CEO of Hermes Airports, had told us three years back that Larnaca “will be a world-class airport” raising passenger capacity from the present 6 mln a year to 7.5 mln, and to a further 9 mln passengers by 2013, he had also warned that if Cyprus as a tourist destination doesn’t work, it won’t make any difference how big an airport one builds.
“We’re in the business of tourism and tourism is all about what you do when you get there,” to the final destination, he had said, adding that the future of aviation in Cyprus will be about frequency and not the size of aircraft that land at the airports.
But in order to enjoy an increase in the number of tourists, we need to spend more from the 3.5 bln euros the state will earn in 25 years from the airports’ build-operate-transfer (BOT) concession.
To begin with, the government should invest in proper street-side lighting, either at major junctions along the highway or at the critical exit that will take passengers to and from the super-duper new terminal at Paphos airport. And if it cared about the environment, it could insist that these be exclusively solar-powered in order to relieve the national grid (and the taxpayer) from any additional cost of electricity.
Our tourism product is obviously limping ahead with no fresh ideas on how to invest in the alternatives such as ecological, sports, health and spa, religious, conference, fishing and even gourmet tourism.
If we can’t be innovative, then we will become a poor imitation of Singapore with the crappiest of airlines and cruise liners choosing Cyprus as a hub.
