Cyprus Plans Major Renovations

Tourism infrastructure in Paphos and other main Cypriot resorts will undergo major renovation in the next few years and include a wave of new developments such as new roads, golf courses and marinas.

Paphos

Cyprus is a relative newcomer to golf tourism. Now with five new courses planned for Paphos alone – bringing the total in the region to eight – the sector is set for major expansion. Golf is just one element of a huge investment programme to the infrastructure and hotels in Paphos, ensuring it maintains its grip on tourism.

George Leptos, chairman of Paphos Regional Board of Tourism, was in London recently to promote the new golf courses, as well as a new 1000 berth marina with shops and restaurants near Coral Bay. He said a new four lane highway would cut journey times between Paphos and Polis and Latchi. Roads to the new Paphos airport, which opened at the end of 2008 and mountain areas would also be widened and improved. The pedestrian pathway from Yeroskipou to Paphos medieval castle would be extended to Coral Bay, to cover 15km.

Recent improvements included refinement of the tourist beach area, clearer signs at archaeological and historical sites, better accessibility for wheelchair users, sprucing up of the resorts green areas, markets and town squares and restoration of old buildings. An environmental policy and cleanliness campaign have also been introduced.

Leptos said hotels had upgraded more than 5000 tourist beds in the past five years with more than 40% of them now in the four and five star category. Paphos offers a third of the island’s 90500 bed capacity.

Photis Lambrianides, commercial director at Olympic Holidays said “Now that the landscaping is finished, Paphos is a vastly improved resort and the infrastructure now a much better match for the five-star hotels we feature there.”

The five star Coral Beach Hotel has launched a package that includes a gala dinner hosted by the hotel’s wine expert after a day spent on the island’s wine tours.
A spokesman at Classic Collection Holidays said Paphos accounted for 66% of its Cyprus sales and the average spend was £1300 per person.

Larnaca

Work on the resort’s first golf course and port redevelopment project have been delayed until the end of this year. All courses are now required to install a desalination plant. The course near Larnaca airport was postponed after the government issued a review after the 2007-08 drought. The luxury real estate development at the course has gone ahead and is due to be completed later this year.

The port redevelopment project was delayed after the unsuccessful bidder issued a challenge to the winning tender. The area will be transformed into a tourist, residential and entertainment area and international cruise centre.

Larnaca’s new international airport is scheduled to open in November. Hoteliers are hoping that low rates and new services from Gatwick and Birmingham from easyJet and Monarch respectively will boost visitor numbers this summer.

Ayia Napa & Protaras

The east coast is to get its first 18 hole golf course. Work will begin at the end of the year and is expected to take two years to complete. It will be run by a consortium of hoteliers and tenders will go out shortly. A second privately owned golf course and real estate development is awaiting a licence from the government.

Construction will also start on a new 600 berth marina with restaurants, conference facilities and leisure facilities at the end of this year.

Plans are afoot to complete the pedestrian pathway from Ayia Napa to Cape Greko and on to Protaras. Roads and cycle ways are also being improved.

Hoteliers are continuing to upgrade their properties in line with the island’s policy to become more upmarket.

Limassol

Limassol is pressing ahead with plans to build a luxury marina and international conference centre. The €300 million marina will be built near the old town and castle and include residential, commercial and cultural units. The Cyprus Ports Authority is redeveloping the Old Port area and building cafes, restaurants, a Nautical museum and new reception area for passengers. All three projects are due to be completed in 2012.

Maria Stylianou, manager of the Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company, said the conference centre would be large enough to attract international events and increase the resort’s all-season appeal. Limassol is acquiring a new face as a quality year-round destination.

The Olympic swimming pool has been renovated a new athletics centre built to encourage sports tourism.

The Amathus Beach Hotel will reopen in April after a €10 million refurbishment which includes a Phillipe Starck designed lobby, refurbished rooms and a new spa, gym and restaurants.

The Mediterranean Beach Hotel has opened a sushi bar and a new Italian restaurant based on the Bacco eatery in Berlin.

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