Cyprus comes calling tourists and investors

The minister announced that entrepreneurs from Dubai could invest in his country and operate even marinas along the Cyprus coast.

This, he said, is a recent development and the Cypriot government is keen on inviting foreign investors in infrastructure and tourism enterprises.

‘People from this region will find it a good place for family vacations, business breaks, meetings, incentives and exhibitions,’ he pointed out.

With the launch of ‘Love Cyprus’ campaign, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation is hoping to attract at least 10,000 travellers from the UAE this year.

Addressing the media, Director-General of Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) Phoebe Katsouris said, ‘The slogan was coined recently because Cyprus is a destination connected with love and we want people to fall in love with the place. It is a new marketing campaign specifically designed for cosmopolitan markets like Europe, the US and Arab countries.’

Stressing on the importance of this region, she pointed out that Emirates will soon increase its flights to Cyprus, to fly daily. Currently, it is operating five flights a week.

In the UAE, CTO is targeting four segments — Emiratis, Asians, Arabs from other countries and Westerners — and has to position its products according to the tastes and needs of the varied segments.

According to tourism board’s statistics, nearly 50,000 tourists from the Middle East and Gulf visited Cyprus in the year 2006. The arrivals showed a 23 per cent increase in 2006 compared to the previous year. A seven per cent increase in tourists is expected this year.

In 2005, about 2,500 visitors travelled to Cyprus from Dubai alone and this year CTO is hoping to attract more tourists.