ACTA and CCCI have expressed their optimism over the future prospects of the tourist industry but have also pointed out the need for the right measures to be taken in order to improve weaknesses.
They were addressing, on Tuesday, the 60th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Cyprus Tourist Agents (ACTA).
ACTA President Victor Mantovanis spoke of “the need for a long-term but at the same time flexible strategy guided by vision and common sense”. Despite having many positive elements working in its favour, he noted, Cyprus as a tourist destination is in serious need of an upgrade.
He also referred to a lack of a strong “branding” and the need to show off Cyprus` comparative advantages to other destinations.
He expressed optimism for the future of tourism, adding at the same time Cyprus should recover its lost competitiveness and its market share. That is why we need to start to improve on our weaknesses, he pointed out. He further said that the industry should focus on hospitality, order, gastronomy, cleanliness and training.
Addressing the event Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) President Phidias Pilides also expressed optimism for the future of the tourist industry, noting that this will be the case the right restructuring measures are taken.
This years positive tourist data are particularly important since our country is in a recession and is trying to recover. He warned however that the good year Cyprus had should not lead to complacency.
Our tourist product has “structural problems, inherent weaknesses and multiple distortions” he said, adding that this was evident from the fact that only the tourist market of Russia recorded an increase while others remained the same or dropped.
CCCI, Pilides said, is optimistic over the future of tourism in the country. If we are bold enough to place tourism on a new and modern basis then “we are certain that it can offer more”. If the necessary structural measures are taken, he noted, then the tourist sector will record better and lasting results.
Referring to the measures which need to be taken he spoke of the need to reduce seasonality, to create quality infrastructure projects, to renovate hotels and tourist accommodation, to manage costs, to seek new tourist markets or expand existing ones, to liberalise flights from and to Cyprus and to better take advantage of alternative tourism aspects.
Cyprus he said could receive over 3 million tourists per year, a goal which can and should be achieved within the next few years.
ACTA was founded in 1954 by seven travel agencies. The founding members of ACTA were honoured during the AGM.
