Cyprus Latest News Nov08

There is plenty of parking space, something which used to frustrate visitors and residents alike in the old building as there simply wasn't any room to wait for passengers and as forfinding a space to return a hire car at busy times...well there just wasn't any. But all that has changed. Coffee lovers will appreciate the large Costa coffee cafe inside the terminal and waiting chauffeurs can sit outside and take a coffee at the outside kafeneio.

Check in is quick and slick with lots of moveable barriers to channel passengers swiftly through the check-in process. So your next trip through Paphos should be quick and easy and above all far more comfortable.

This week, tourist chiefs called for intervention from the government to include:

• Air tax reductions to make flights cheaper
• Lower electricity costs for hotels
• A fuel tax reduction to make it cheaper for both car hire and airlines
• Funding to help hoteliers renovate properties to make the island more attractive

Whether these finds will become available remains to be seen but it is fair to say that Cyprus will probably suffer badly next year especially as prices across the island have soared overthe past few years. Maybe that will spell good news for tourists and residents as hopefully goods and services will come down in price to reflect tough market conditions.

On the same subject of tourism, the government announced further plans to boost low season tourism.“The development and promotion of alternative forms of tourism are among the top priority of the state’s strategy on tourism. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, as well as the CTO are giving emphasis to the substantial improvement and organisation of the cycling tourism, agrotourism and conference tourism products,” said Stathis Hamboullas, General Director of the Ministry of Commerce.

The realisation that sun and sea are not enough to attract quality tourism is at the core of the decision to promote alternative forms of tourism, something we have been saying for years.The Polis/Latchi area is a perfect example of how tourism should thrive in the low season months due to the outdoor activities available like walking and cycling. If only the area was promoted more as an outdoor destination.

A reminder about our new online taxi booking service.

Just click the link below to reserve your taxi online - quick and easy.

Book Cyprus taxisonline

That's all from our Cyprus Latest News Nov08.

See you next month.