ANALYSED THE TIES BETWEEN THE TWO AUTHORITIES WHICH LED TO A SUCCESSFUL COLLABORATION.
In its 46 years of operation, CTO has had a long-established cooperation with Cyprus Hotel Association with which it is connected by common objectives and common pathways.
The two authorities have worked methodically together when after August 1974 Cyprus’ tourism sector lost more than 70 percent of its bed capacity and most of its touristic areas.
Moreover, in 2014, we have worked together to lay the foundations for the industry’s and the economy’s recovery and we have taken decisions, following which we are now able to speak about tourism achievements with multiple benefits for the country.
After the financial crisis of 2013, our common effort for recovery was painful but persistent.
In 2014, with coordinated actions and joint promotional activities, we managed to win back the island’s credibility and our foreign partners.
We achieved to deter the 13-year-long fall in tourist arrivals and reverse the performance, resulting in a year-on-year boost of 1.5 percent with 2.44 million visitors.
In 2015, this trend continued with 2.66 million arrivals and a year-on-year increase of 8.9 percent which is pointing to a successful path this year too. In the first quarter of the year, we had a spectacular growth of 21.9 percent, compared to 2015.
All of our partners have contributed to this collective and universal effort, always with a steadfast commitment to the common goal of recovery.
We expect to strengthen CTO’s and Cyprus Hotel Association’s historical ties and continue along the same path for even greater achievements that would lead to even more potential for progress at all levels, including economic stability, bigger investments and [new] opportunities for all Cypriots.
This year is forecasted to be the most successful tourist season in the country’s history with record arrivals and receipts, in a year when European tourist [arrivals] are estimated to be reduced by approximately 25 percent.
CTO is not complacent; we will reconfigure our policies and our role within the new tourism strategy to be more effective in our work.
We are convinced that we are on the right path and that we will have even greater growth.
