A new innovative iPhone/iPad app facilitates travellers during their visit to Paphos in Cyprus and on the same time promotes the cultural and tourism attractions.
Imagine you are a visitor to a new town, city, country and you want to see and experience as much as possible, be able to learn about the history of the place, where to eat, how to get there while at the same time have fun winning prizes.
Now you can… Guide books or maps are no longer needed, all this information and more will come to you via your iPhone/iPad.
The first application focuses on Pafos where 14 sites have been listed, including museums, archaeological, creative workshops, and craft outlets.
When a visitor signs into a site they will instantly earn points and be able to gather enough points to win a gift, plus the chance to win a three night stay for two at a local hotel.
In effect, “Treasure Hunt” promotes places of interest, while at the same time the visitor enjoys a fun competitive game. All points on the app are accessible on public transport and the application facilitates bus route information at each point.
The application is available in English, Greek, and Russian. Another big bonus boost for towns and cities, is that the application allows treasure hunters to share their progress with friends and family via social networking sites – Facebook and Twitter. As each ‘hunt’ is shared, the town and its ‘treasures’ are promoted to potential new visitors.
As the innovators say: “It’s been a long time in the making but, we the innovators can now offer this totally unique application FREE on the iTunes App Store or by visiting www.pafostreasurehunt.com.”
Cocoon Creations, a Nicosia based company, Pafos based Tourism Consultants Avantless LTD and a like minded group of International associates are busy working on applications for European destinations.
Cocoon Creation’s co-founder Michalis Strouthos believes:
“This is just the beginning of something much bigger. By cleverly harnessing the power of smartphone technology we bring towns and cities alive via a visitor’s device. Tourism is rapidly changing, and Cyprus can now lay claim to having created a worlds first in electronic tourism which combines education, entertainment, and full on instant promotion for each town and city.”
Petros Mavros – Managing director of Avantless made the point that:
“The Treasure Hunt will mean a before and an after in the way we market Tourist destinations. This is the first online collaborative destination marketing tool that brings the end-consumer in direct contact with the tourist product.
There is no intermediation, no intervention from 3rd parties and there is no pressure exercised on the end-customer. FIT (Free Independent Travelers) make up 50% of the Cypriot Tourist business, and will be the first target group to download the app for free. Pafos launches the Treasure Hunt as it’s a town which displays the ideal characteristics to lead the initiative, with more Cyprus towns to follow”.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
