ETAP: The aim is to reposition Paphos on the tourism map

Paphos will be repositioned on Cyprus’ tourism map in the coming years, in a way that highlights and reinforces the advantages that sets it apart from other destinations, the president of the Paphos Tourism Development and Promotion Board (ETAP), Kyriacos Droushiotis, told CNA in an interview.

Referring to ETAP’s plans for the immediate future, Droushiotis said the aim was to establish Paphos as a qualitatively superior tourist destination that functions all year round.

He said the Board’s long-standing strategy has been to develop the Paphos district’s tourism industry with quality upgrades of the product and services on offer, and a repositioning of the town to make it more popular among visitors and boost its competitiveness.

Among ETAP’s plans are to implement comprehensive actions to encourage visitors to move away from the town centre and rejuvenate the countryside, expand the Paphos International Airport and accelerate the procedures for the town’s marina.

It was also important, said Droushiotis, to adopt technological tools to present the Paphos district’s museum and Arsinoe Museum in Polis Chrysochous, while continually upgrading the town’s organised beaches.

The main road leading up to Paphos airport must be completed as a matter of urgency, he added, as should the road connecting Paphos to Polis Chrysochous.

According to Droushiotis, it is also important to increase the number of flights that arrive/depart Paphos airport, as well as the destinations it covers, especially when it comes to flights from Germany.

He further called for more incentives to upgrade and renovate, not just hotels, but the entire scope of businesses active in the tourism industry. He referred specifically to substantive incentives aimed at technologically upgrading tourism enterprises to making them “smarter, but also incentives to keep hotels open during the winter season.