The Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative (CSTI), an independent non-profit organization established in 2006, together with The Travel Foundation, an independent UK charity that aims to help the outbound travel industry manage tourism more sustainably, have together over recent years come quite a long way in their stride towards sustainable tourism. Some of the projects successfully completed include:

• Sustainable excursions, tree planting and beach cleaning
• Water, Waste and Energy saving strategies
• Publication of Village routes – maps to discover the real Cyprus
• An agrotourism association redirecting tourism to the heart of Cyprus
• Small interesting museums established in villages (wine, carob, olive etc)

This effort has now been taken one big step forward while The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) and The Travel Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding on June 16th 2010. The agreement between the parties marks the beginning of a 5-year collaboration to make Cyprus the first ‘sustainable’ destination.
The priority of this new collaboration will lie with projects that include amongst others: developing min. standards for the accommodation industry; a plan for sustainable development of golf courses; planting scheme for the tourist industry; a renewable energy programme using waste from the accommodation industry; developing a composting scheme with a group of accommodation providers in a resort; a campaign to prevent littering in municipalities and generally developing rural enterprise.



The main benefit for Cyprus will be a positively enhanced image as a destination which sets high priorities on sustainability issues as well as enhanced promotion opportunities and opportunities for local economies.

http://www.csti-cyprus.org

The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) has recently appointed Mr. Lefkos Phylactides, age 54, as the new Acting Director General. Mr. Phylactides has considerable expertise in the field of tourism, having served in various departments of the CTO for 30 years. Immediately prior to his new appointment, he held the position of Director of the Department of Tourist Services.

Civil engineers, harbor experts and coastal engineers from Greece recently presented proposals for improvements to Larnaca’s seafront to the town’s mayor and other officials. 
The suggestions also included ways to better the Refineries area and the Oroklini coastline.
Speaking after the presentation, the Larnaca Mayor said that the town’s citizens would soon also have the opportunity to view the plans and express their opinion. The main aim of the efforts is to protect the coastline from erosion. 

The Cyprus Weekly 28 June 2010

Pax arrivals per country Jan-June 10 vs Jan–June 09
(Source: CTO)
COUNTRIES	JanJune  2010	Jan- June    2009	Change Jan-June 10/09 (%)
UNITED KINGDOM	408,923	430,782	-5.1%
GERMANY	62,851	62,153	1.1%
GREECE	59,777	59,113	1.1%
SWEDEN	41,788	43,313	-3.5%
NORWAY	23,221	22,298	4.1%
FINLAND	14,328	14,816	-3.3%
DENMARK	11,741	11,406	2.9%
FRANCE	11,705	13,643	-14.2%
SWITZERLAND	13,299	14,183	-6.2%
NETHERLANDS	12,568	13,946	-9.9%
BELGIUM/LUXEMBURG	10,733	12,244	-12.3%
AUSTRIA	7,413	9,897	-25.1%
ITALY	5,088	7,873	-35.4%
IRELAND	3,872	6,431	-39.8%
SPAIN	1,497	1,783	-16.0%
RUSSIA	85,548	60,757	40.8%
BALTIC COUNTRIES	2,260	1,837	23.0%
POLAND	7,566	5,734	31.9%
HUNGARY	3,809	2,890	31.8%
CZECH REPUBLIC	5,155	5,621	-8.3%
BULGARIA	3,868	4,259	-9.2%
ROMANIA	8,205	9,183	-10.7%
SLOVAKIA	1,594	1,464	8.9%
UKRAINE	3,831	3,127	22.5%
SERBIA	1,239	1,517	-18.3%
OTHER EUROPE	5,059	6,437	-21.4%
LEBANON	7,232	6,430	12.5%
JORDAN	1,284	1,667	-23.0%
EGYPT	2,043	2,063	-1.0%
U.A.E.	5,093	6,609	-22.9%
SAUDI ARABIA	1,001	1,111	-9.9%
BAHRAIN	1,120	1,441	-22.3%
KUWAIT	574	581	-1.2%
OTHER ARAB COUNTRIES	3,694	2,774	33.2%
ISRAEL	12,546	12,597	-0.4%
USA	9,247	8,102	14.1%
CANADA	2,563	2,308	11.0%
AUSTRALIA	5,462	3,811	43.3%
SOUTH AFRICA	2,625	2,567	2.3%
OTHER COUNTRIES	6,535	4,230	54.5%
TOTAL	877,957	882,998	-0.6%

The Ayia Napa Youth Festival is a festival organized by the youth for all Cyprus. It will include concerts, events and activities with a strong social message against violence in football stadiums and a charity purpose. The idea was based on popular festivals abroad where except of the concerts they include a number of activities. The festival will be established as an annual event and every year the last weekend of august all of Cyprus’ youth will gather in Ayia Napa. The festival will take place on 27-28-29 august 2010 at the Ayia Napa harbour.

For more information please click here

Following three consecutive successful years of cultural activities, the Nicosia Municipality once again organizes this summer various cultural events in neighborhoods and squares of the city of Nicosia, from early July until September. The range of events includes music and theatre performances with the participation of local as well as foreign artists. Free Admittance to all!

www.nicosia.org.cy

Award winning Golf Resort Aphrodite Hills has been selected to host the widely anticipated 2010 PGA EuroPro Tour Championship finale – with a prize fund of €75,000 –, a key event for golf enthusiasts. Taking place from 30th September to 2nd October 2010, the Professional Golfer’s Association tour finale, sponsored by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and Cyprus Airways, will put the island on the international golfing map. Televised on Sky Sports, the tournament is recognized as Europe’s leading developmental tour for aspiring professional golfers, and will see the top 60 players in the Order of Merit compete alongside the pros in a battle to become crowned 2010 champions.

www.aphroditehills.com

The five-star St Raphael Resort in Limassol will be one of the official sponsors for next year’s Limassol International Marathon, by offering special room rates for marathon participants and their guests.

More on: www.raphael.com.cy

The Limassol International Marathon – to take place on 20th February 2011 - is proving to be a huge success, attracting runners from across the globe!

TO REGISTER FOR THE MARATHON
SIMPLY VISIT

www.limassolmarathon.com

Almyra Hotel declared 5 ***** hotel
           
Local authorities have now officially classified the Almyra Hotel in Paphos as a 5 Star Hotel.

 

Louis Phaethon Beach Pafos renovations

The Louis Phaethon Beach Hotel will undergo full renovation of all its rooms, including bathrooms, as well as the renovation of the existing pool and the creation of pool.  In order to finalize all this, the hotel will close from 1/11/10 up to 15/4/11 included. 

The Ambelikos Agro Hotel in east Troodos

Full of the essential spirit of Cyprus and designed to offer the ultimate escape, a cluster of listed stone village houses - built in the late 1800s and carefully renovated in 2008 to preserve their distinctive character - forms the heart of the traditional Ambelikos AgroHotel. High up in the mountains above Limassol in the heart of agro tourism, in the quiet village of Potamitissa, the hotel is perfectly placed to ensure that a holiday will be as relaxing or as exciting as it ought to be.

Facilities…….

The Ambelikos Guest House has full restaurant facilities, 15 bedrooms (all en-suite), swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, inside & outside bar areas and even conference room facilities. The hotel is also fully equipped to cater for visitors with disabilities.

http://www.ambelikos.com

‘The Cove Beach’ at only a short distance of 900 meters right outside the Aphrodite Hills resort’s main entrance at an idyllic setting for a true Mediterranean bathing experience, under the sun. Hotel Guests may enjoy the following complimentary services:

• 3 minute shuttle ride from and to the hotel
• Cushioned chaise loungers
• Beach towels
• Umbrellas

A unique kiosk with wooden decking is also available for drinks and cold snacks.

www.aphroditehills.com