May 2010

NEWS FROM CYPRUS!

Greetings to all our colleagues & friends across the globe and welcome to the May newsletter from Aeolos Travel.

Features include:

Wishing you a happy read!

12th Paphos Aphrodite festival

On 3rd , 4th and 5th September 2010 at the Pafos Castle Square

 “Pafos Aphrodite Festival” opens its gate for the twelfth consecutive year aspiring to offer all music enthusiasts  a unique experience leading them through the magic paths of lyric drama. The Slovak National Opera is going to present the popular opera of Giacomo Puccini La Bohème at the square in front of the Medieval Castle in Pafos.

 La Bohème is the 4th in line opera of G. Puccini following Le Villi (1884), Edgar (1889) and Manon Lescaut (1890).  The libretto is in Italian and consists of four acts, full of tragic but also comic moments just like real life.  It is based on the literary work Scenes de la vie de Bohème by the French author Henry Murger but with characteristic differences in the plot from the original work of Murger. 

 

Cyprus Golf facilities develop further

Elea Golf & Spa Resort (Paphos)

Faldo Design is creating an 18-hole layout on the island and the six-time major winner is confident that, once completed, the project will be pivotal in establishing the South West of Cyprus as a golfing destination of great appeal.
The developer is delighted with the early progress of the project and is certain that he will deliver a course that will become a real talking point in Cyprus and the Mediterranean. At around 6,900 yards from the tips, the emphasis here will be on thoughtful, rather than big-hitting, golf and there will be plenty of strategic riddles for the golfer to explore and unravel over all 18 holes. The layout circulates around a rocky hillside and filters down into groves of mature Carob trees and great use is made of the dramatic outcrops of weathered limestone. This course will work in harmony with the region’s arid landscape and, with its hill-top setting and sea views, golf at the Elea Resort will be an experience that low and high handicappers alike will want to engage with again and again.”

Green light for Cyprus golf project in Larnaca

The MedGolf Group, a joint-venture partnership has secured the green light to develop the Larnaca Golf Resort and Country Club at an initial cost of EUR 60 mln.
The Cypriot consortium has secured and acquired an area of 1.5 mln sq. metres in the Tersefanou area, next to Larnaca airport, where it will build and develop an 18-hole golf course, clubhouse, village square, purpose-built function rooms, spa facilities and more than 500 private properties.



Etihad to add 4th flight to Cyprus


Barely a year into its operation to Cyprus and Etihad Airways is already enjoying a steady growth in its business with plans to add a fourth schedule to its weekly flights from Abu Dhabi.
Furthermore, the airline is currently testing a quick and efficient way to issue ‘guest’ visas for visitors to the emirate, making the UAE’s capital an attractive stopover and final destination, beyond its success as a transit connection hub.
From Cyprus, Etihad has proven successful for travel to Australia and South Africa, while outbound traffic to Asian destinations is also gaining ground.

Pax arrivals

Pax arrivals per country Jan-March 10 vs Jan–March 09

(Source: CTO)

COUNTRIES

Jan-March  2010

Jan- March    2009

Change Jan-March
10/09 (%)

UNITED KINGDOM

86,227

87,070

-1.0%

GERMANY

23,988

22,720

5.6%

GREECE

24,718

21,552

14.7%

SWEDEN

3,803

3,416

11.3%

NORWAY

2,520

969

160.1%

FINLAND

2,480

2,163

14.7%

DENMARK

1,261

1,103

14.3%

FRANCE

2,686

3,344

-19.7%

SWITZERLAND

1,458

1,793

-18.7%

NETHERLANDS

2,328

2,738

-15.0%

BELGIUM/LUXEMBURG

2,657

3,234

-17.8%

AUSTRIA

2,141

1,938

10.5%

ITALY

1,536

2,012

-23.7%

IRELAND

599

538

11.3%

SPAIN

829

793

4.5%

RUSSIA

10,200

9,043

12.8%

BALTIC COUNTRIES

506

687

-26.3%

POLAND

2,048

1,022

100.4%

HUNGARY

901

581

55.1%

CZECH REPUBLIC

893

618

44.5%

BULGARIA

1,622

1,510

7.4%

ROMANIA

3,139

3,383

-7.2%

SLOVAKIA

410

234

75.2%

UKRAINE

937

868

7.9%

SERBIA

449

467

-3.9%

OTHER EUROPE

1,452

2,237

-35.1%

LEBANON

2,166

1,905

13.7%

JORDAN

517

655

-21.1%

EGYPT

783

521

50.3%

U.A.E.

1,593

2,160

-26.3%

SAUDI ARABIA

248

154

61.0%

BAHRAIN

397

432

-8.1%

KUWAIT

241

111

117.1%

OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES

2,440

1,658

47.2%

ISRAEL

5,526

3,775

46.4%

USA

3,344

2,537

31.8%

CANADA

1,003

593

69.1%

AUSTRALIA

1,399

1,174

19.2%

SOUTH AFRICA

857

624

37.3%

OTHER COUNTRIES

2,703

1,794

50.7%

TOTAL

205,005

194,126

5.6%


Qatar to invest in Cyprus hotel

Cash-rich Qatar is expected to invest some $150 mln in a new venture with the Cyprus government to build a luxury hotel and commercial complex in the capital Nicosia.
The Emir of Qatar arrived on a brief visit and signed a host of bilateral agreements with President Christofias.
Chief among them was the establishment of a 50:50 venture with Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company, a property investment fund that will develop the state-owned land opposite the Hilton Hotel to include offices and apartments, shops, restaurants and underground parking.

 April 21, 2010 - www.financialmirror.com

Cyprus’ Sports tourism

Sports Tourism to Cyprus has generated around €14 million from January 2009 until April this year, the head of the Cyprus Sports Federation (KOA) announced.
According to KOA, in 2009, Cyprus hosted a number of sporting events – such as the 13th Games of the Small States of Europe – as well as athletes and visiting fans. This resulted in an income of between €13 million and €15 million. For KOA, sports tourism is important for two reasons: firstly because it supports the tourism industry and secondly because it contributes to further developing Cyprus sports, through the various exchanges.
Cyprus has two competitive advantages in efforts to attract sports tourism: it has very good sporting substructures and favorable weather conditions. Cyprus is among the priorities of many foreign athletes when it comes to preparing for outdoor sports, such as swimming, cycling and football.

www.cyprus-mail.com   - April 29, 2010

New Athletic center in Platres

Surrounded by the green hills at an altitude of 1050m, Platres Athletic Sports Center is located in the heart of the Troodos Mountains. The village of Platres is famous for its unique beauty, charm and ideal weather conditions in Cyprus as well as around the Globe inspiring and attracting people from all over the world.

Today, following the new era, Platres has created a super modern Athletic Sports Center targeting professional athletes, with state of the art Facilities, Equipment and Pitches providing them with ultimate conditions for practice and sports in general.

 This modern sports center has a football Pitch, mini football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, and handball, as well as fitness and Spa facilities. It also has spacious locker rooms and a welcoming café.

For more information please click here

Hotel updates

Capo Bay Hotel

At the Capo Bay you can find a harmonic space to relax… be healthy…be pampered, while in the evening it transforms into a hip place!
Contemporary healthy eating with exotic reference to an Asian/Med fusion of flavors.
It is characterized by a strong barstronomy while it features a water and vodka bar with rare labels as well as signature cocktails. Every night a Resident DJ is performing.


Napa Mermaid Hotel & Suites

 In line with their policy to constantly provide improved services and facilities with a view to increase guest comfort and satisfaction, the Napa Mermaid Hotel & Suites has engaged in the following activities and actions last winter:

1. Selective training of their staff.
2. Replacement of balcony rails with clear glass.
3. Remodeling of the bathrooms in all standard rooms.
4. Redesign of the main entrance of the hotel.
5. Introduction of Cyprus and Greek delicacies in  the White Linen Taverna.




Wifi at the Napa Plaza Hotel

The Napa Plaza Hotel in Ayia Napa has equipped all rooms and public areas with Wi-Fi internet connection.
There will be a reasonable charge (payable locally).
Management of the hotel appreciates if you can update any description and inform potential guests accordingly.






Published monthly for travel partners & friends by:

Aeolos Travel
6, Zenas Kanther Street
CY-1065, Nicosia
P.O. Box 21236, CY 1504
Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel:00357 22 881281
Fax:00357 22 671522

www.aeolos.com

www.bookcyprus.com