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Cyprus is looking to the Middle East as an old friend; it is very well known that Cypriot business people have been for years working very closely with companies and states from the Middle East. In the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and elsewhere in the region, Cyprus is a very well known place and vice versa.
Tourism development has been struggling though. The area was emitting to Cyprus approximately 39,000 visitors a year some years ago, now, with Vasilis Theocharides in charge of the Cyprus Tourism office we have reached 55,000 visitors per year. This is a great achievement Vasilis says, but still we should be able to gain more market share since we are the closest European destination.
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The 2011 ATM (Arabian Travel Market), was a great opportunity for the Cypriot travel businessman or businesswoman to reestablish the “lost connection” with the area in general. This is exactly what some active travel business people did. Probably the most innovative and most authentic proposal comes from a small travel agency in Pafos; Kalotaxido Travel Services, led by Joanna Constandinou.
Talking to Joanna is easy to get excited about Cyprus. Her proposal to visit Cyprus does not pass from delivering only a beach holiday, which did not ever mention since as she says “the first thing you will realize when you land to Larnaca or Pafos airports is that Cyprus has a lot of sun and plenty of beaches”; Joanna’s proposal turns the visitor from a tourist to an ambassador. Kalotaxido has been working with Wine-makers, Pottery-Craft artisans and experienced tour guides to create unique travel packages that drive the visitor into a completely new travel experience.
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Talking to the people who were visiting the Cyprus Stand in the ATM fair, they were very excited to hear that they could visit Cyprus and make their own wine, walk in the small churches or small mosques of villages and make their own pottery work to take home. Analia Bello from Zar Travel in South Africa, who specializes on Wedding Packages found the 3 activities Kalotaxido is offering innovative and exciting and she will include Cyprus in her new honeymoon destinations. As Analia told us, “my clients want to go somewhere safe, where that could get away from their routine and create memories that would last for many years, and what Kalotaxido is offering us in Cyprus is fantastic”.
Petros Mavros, Business Development Director, Avantless ltd
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
