Cyprus to intensify efforts to boost tourist industry

The government of Cyprus will intensify its efforts to reach the best possible results in tourism, amidst the world economic crisis, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Antonis Paschalides, said.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the ITB Berlin Travel Trade Show, the Minister referred to the German market, expressing certainty that Cyprus can attract more German tourists.

Paschalides noted that the German market is a high priority for Cyprus.

In 2008, 132.000 German tourists visited the island, he said.

“The number of tourists we can attract from Germany is much higher since Cyprus has a series of important advantages like a rich tourist product, high level services and warm and hospitable people”, he said.

The government of Cyprus and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation will intensify their efforts to reach the best possible results, the Minister pledged.

“We have already invested important funds in the German market to promote Cyprus and we cooperate very closely with all trip organisers of the country”, he noted.

Paschalides expressed hope that the government’s efforts to attract more tourists from Germany would soon yield results, noting that the task would be difficult, given the world economic crisis.

“Our task will not be an easy one, since the world economic crisis has affected, as it was expected, tourism, which is especially sensitive and vulnerable”, he said.

He said that “the government and CTO have been monitoring developments with an aim to deal with the situation and already important measures have been decided to support tourism industry”.