– Tourist arrivals increase by 43% in April 2011
Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou announced on Monday two agreements between the government and Hermes Airports Ltd, which aim to further support tourism, development and the economy.
Stephanou was speaking to the press after a meeting between President of the Republic Demetris Christofias and the Chairman of Hermes Airports Ltd Nicos Shacolas, the President of the Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EVE) George Leptos, the President of the co-ordinating committee of parties and organisations in Paphos (SEKO) Mayor of Paphos Savvas Vergas and their associates, in the presence of Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalidis.
He said that the first agreement concerns the contribution of the government and Hermes Airports, amounting to 12.5 euro each for every passenger arriving here with the aim of attracting tourists from other countries and airports.
The second agreement, he added, concerns the contribution of the government amounting to 4 euro for each tourist coming to Cyprus. He said that the cost for both agreements is estimated to reach six million euro.
He noted that these agreements have already yielded results, adding that an agreement has been achieved with a major airline committed to transferring to Cyprus 200,000 additional tourists with a perspective in a few years the number of tourist to reach around 400,000.
The Spokesman stressed that these agreements provide a commercial incentive and apply to all interested parties.
These agreements, he noted, are a great success for tourism, the economy, growth and employment and actively demonstrate how beneficial the cooperation between the government and the private sector is, which the government supports, promotes and implements.
On his part, Shacolas said “we fully agree with what the Spokesman has said”, adding that ''by May 15, one million 800 thousand tourists came to Cyprus, recording an increase by 6% compared to last year, meaning 106 thousand more.”
The number of the traveling public is about seven million a year, he said.
He expressed the view “we will have between 500 thousand to 600 thousand more tourists in 2012” meaning around two billion euro in revenue for the economy in five years, representing 600 million euro a year additionally.
Vergas said that this is a very important agreement for the city and district of Paphos in a difficult period for the tourist industry and added “we use our international airport with new routes and destinations that we didn’t have in the past.”
He thanked the government “because we have been informed that next Wednesday we will sign the contracts for the first phase of the link between the tourist area of Kato Paphos to the airport, worth 15 million euro.”
Leptos said that the business people and society of Paphos at large are fully satisfied about the agreement and the successful outcome of this initiative undertaken by the Chamber of Paphos.
Paschalidis said “these agreements mark a new era for Cyprus’ tourism, especially for the city and the district of Paphos. It means we turn the page and proceed at a faster pace”.
The Minister also said that tourist arrivals in Cyprus marked an increase of 43% in April 2011 compared to April 2010.
He also said that for the period January – April 2011 arrivals of tourists recorded an increase of 17,6% compared to the corresponding period of 2010.
He noted that for the first time in a long time there is an increase in tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom while an increase is also recorded from Russia, Germany, Sweden and Greece and other destinations.
Tourists arrivals in Cyprus marked an increase of 43% in April 2011.
According to figures released by the Statistical Service of the Republic of Cyprus, on the basis of the results of the Passengers Survey, arrivals of tourists reached 199.762 in April 2011 compared to 139.658 in April 2010, recording an increase of 43%.
An increase of 29,1% was recorded in tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom (from 62.742 in April 2010 to 80.998 in April 2011), 74,0% increase from Russia (from 10.910 to 18.987) and 30,8% increase from Germany (from 13.724 to 17.956 this year).
For the period January – April 2011 arrivals of tourists totaled 405.463 compared to 344.664 in the corresponding period of 2010, recording an increase of 17,6%.
