President Nicos Anastasiades referred on Tuesday to the Government`s effort for a comprehensive reform in the tourism sector, including by setting up an under-secretariat.
The President addressed the Annual General Assembly of the Cyprus Hotel Association, celebrating 80 years since its establishment.
Anastasiades said that the Government moves ahead with drafting a modern, horizontal, long-term national strategy for tourism. He added that the strategy will include the upgrading of the institutional governance of the sector through a new regulatory framework or even by setting up an under-secretariat.
“We are now in the final phase of these big changes that will be soon submitted in the form of bills to the Parliament” the President said.
He sent the message that the sector of tourism will be a high priority for the Government.
“In the great effort we are all making to strengthen the tourism sector, the hoteliers are in the front line,” the President said, noting that the quality of the services offered reflect the image of the touristic Cyprus.
Anastasiades made special reference to the contribution of the tourism sector in the island`s economy after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and noted that the same sector proved to be very strong during the economic crisis and it is mainly because of tourism that Cyprus has managed to return to growth in such a short period of time.
“Knowing the prospects of tourism, the Government has worked from the first moment to upgrade the quality of our tourist product. We continued and we will continue unabated to promote big projects of tourism infrastructure, including new golf courses, marines and the casino resort, and despite our public finances being in a difficult state we have approved in the budget development projects of millions of euro, to improve the public tourism infrastructure” he said.
He stressed that the Government gave incentives which actually create growth.
The President also referred to the Government`s actions to simplify the procedures for the acquirement of a visa for Cyprus and to the dozens of agreements with airlines and tour operators, to further increase the schedules and the availability of airline seats to Cyprus.
He also said that a sponsorship plan that will be launched by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation will aim to enrich and modernise the tourism product. The project is for the 2014-2020 programming period and is estimated at 14 million euro while it is expected to generate investments of 50 million euro in the tourism industry.
In his address, Anastasiades called on the hoteliers not to overlook the local work force.
“We do not exclude anyone from employment” the President said, but noted that unlike foreign workers, Cypriots treat foreign visitors in a different manner.
He then urged the hoteliers not to neglect the local workforce and the collective agreements.
The Chairman of the Association, Harris Loizides, said that 2016 could be a record year in terms of tourist arrivals. He said that Cyprus could attract 3,5 million tourists per year in the next five years through concerted and well targeted actions.
He also noted that it is imperative to continue and enhance the reforms that the country needs, to render its economy more attractive, flexible and competitive.
CTO Chairman Angelos Loizou projected that 2016 will be a historically successful year as regards both arrivals and revenue, in a period during which the European travellers` trips are expected to be reduced by approximately 25%.
The Chairman of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels Giorgos Tsakiris referred to the new challenges for tourism and the tourism product in recent years posed by online bookings and hotel reviews, the emergence of new destinations, the expansion of the so called sharing economy and its impact on tourism.
CNA/THN/KD/GV/2016
ENDS, President of the Republic of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades said on Tuesday the Government is promoting a comprehensive reform in the tourism sector, including the cration of an under-secretariat.
The President addressed the Annual General Assembly of the Cyprus Hotel Association, celebrating 80 years since its establishment.
Anastasiades said that the Government moves ahead with drafting a modern, horizontal, long-term national strategy on tourism. He added that the strategy will include the upgrading of the institutional governance of the sector through a new regulatory framework or even by setting up an under-secretariat.
“We are now in the final phase of these big changes that will be soon submitted in the form of bills to the Parliament” the President said.
He sent the message that the sector of tourism will be a high priority for the Government.
“In the great effort we are all making to strengthen the tourism sector, the hoteliers are in the front line,” the President said, noting that the quality of the services offered reflect the image of the touristic Cyprus.
Anastasiades made special reference to the contribution of the tourism sector in the island`s economy after the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus, and noted that the same sector proved to be very strong during the economic crisis and it is mainly because of tourism that Cyprus has managed to return to growth in such a short period of time.
“Knowing the prospects of tourism, the Government has worked from the first moment to upgrade the quality of our tourist product. We continued and we will continue unabated to promote big projects of tourism infrastructure, including new golf courses, marines and the casino resort, and despite our public finances being in a difficult state we have approved in the budget development projects of millions of euro, to improve the public tourism infrastructure” he said.
He stressed that the Government gave incentives which actually create growth.
The President also referred to the Government`s actions to simplify the procedures for the acquirement of a visa for Cyprus and to the dozens of agreements with airlines and tour operators, to further increase the schedules and the availability of airline seats to Cyprus.
He also said that a sponsorship plan that will be launched by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation will aim to enrich and modernise the tourism product. The project is for the 2014-2020 programming period and is estimated at 14 million euro while it is expected to generate investments of 50 million euro in the tourism industry.
In his address, Anastasiades called on the hoteliers not to overlook the local work force.
“We do not exclude anyone from employment” the President said, but noted that unlike foreign workers, Cypriots treat foreign visitors in a different manner.
He then urged the hoteliers not to neglect the local workforce and the collective agreements.
The Chairman of the Association, Harris Loizides, said that 2016 could be a record year in terms of tourist arrivals. He said that Cyprus could attract 3,5 million tourists per year in the next five years through concerted and well targeted actions.
He also noted that it is imperative to continue and enhance the reforms that the country needs, to render its economy more attractive, flexible and competitive.
CTO Chairman Angelos Loizou projected that 2016 will be a historically successful year as regards both arrivals and revenue, in a period during which the European travellers` trips are expected to be reduced by approximately 25%.
The Chairman of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels Giorgos Tsakiris referred to the new challenges for tourism and the tourism product in recent years posed by online bookings and hotel reviews, the emergence of new destinations, the expansion of the so called sharing economy and its impact on tourism.