Cyprus places great importance both on sustaining its current tourist markets as well as on reaching out to new ones, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Praxoula Antoniadou has said.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by Cyprus Tourism Organisation, in London, where she traveled on the occasion of the “World Travel Market”, Antoniadou said that “one of the lessons that the financial crisis has taught us is the need to base growth on real sectors of the economy rather than on paper and its derivatives. Tourism is one such solid real sector”.
“With this awareness in mind, Cyprus places great importance both on sustaining its current markets and also on reaching out to new ones, not just in geographical terms but also in terms of interests and purpose” she said.
As she noted, “Cyprus may be blessed with the sun and the sea”, yet she added “it has a well-developed infrastructure in terms of its two modern airports, extensive road network and high tech telecommunications. A series of top star hotels, the marina currently being constructed in Limassol, which will be ready in a year’s time, and increase in the number of golf courses add to the whole picture”.
“The island’s unique nature, its long history and tradition comprise long-standing value” Antoniadou said, pointing out that “its human capital strength makes Cyprus a reliable place to do business or organize conferences”.
According to the Minister, “Cyprus’s proximity to other countries in the Eastern Mediterranean such as Greece, Egypt or Israel offers the opportunity to organize joint visits in the area”.
Antoniadou underlined also that “UK is our major tourist market and this is something we treasure”.
Furthermore she noted that despite the world economic crisis “the island’s strengthening prospects as a destination of both traditional and special interest tourism, as well as a business destination have maintained momentum during 2011”.
“New prospects for the island to enter Europe’s energy map, if hydrocarbons are discovered in Cyprus’ Exclusive Economic Zone in December, will raise foreign investors’ interest in Cyprus. Eventually, discovery and exploitation of natural gas in Cyprus will bring prices down through lower energy costs and reduced burden on the environment” the Commerce Minister pointed out.
“I am certain that our long term relationship, combined with the enhanced long term prospects that the island presents, will bear in the consideration of policy decisions on the part of all of us here tonight, so that mutual benefits arise out of enhancing Cyprus as a destination of choice” Antoniadou said.
