07 Nov 2018
On the occasion of World Travel Market London 2018, please see the latest news from the Cyprus Tourism Organisation with an overview of what's new in terms of accommodation, major events and general developments this coming winter and into the spring (Nov 2018 – April 2019).
CREATIVE CAMPAIGN
Bottomless Halloumi Brunch Launches in London
From October 20th until November 18th 2018, Londoners are being treated to a brand-new halloumi pop-up restaurant with a bespoke halloumi themed bottomless brunch menu. This exciting new venture has been launched by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) as a way of showcasing their national cheese and entice people to visit the island.
Located in the buzzing area of Soho at Las Banderas and created especially for the event by the team behind last year's Halloumi pop up Francis Puyat and Andrew Zilouf of 100 Hoxton, the menu comprises an array of halloumi-inspired brunch dishes.
LATEST VISITOR FIGURES
The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO)'s recent visitor figures continue to show strong growth to the destination.
For the period of January – September 2018 arrivals of tourists totalled 3.2 million compared to 3 million in the corresponding period of 2017, recording an increase of 7.9% and outnumbering the total arrivals ever recorded in Cyprus during the first nine months of the year.
Tourist arrivals from the United Kingdom increased by 5.3% in September 2018 compared to September 2017 while an increase of 1.7% was recorded for tourists from Israel. Tourist arrivals from Germany and Greece also increased by 3.0% and 4.0% respectively.
In the key summer month of August, arrivals of tourists reached 534.847 compared to 523.651 in August 2017, recording an increase of 2.1%. August 2018 had the highest volume of tourist arrivals ever recorded in Cyprus during the specific month.
For a percentage of 88,3% of tourists, the purpose of their trip in August 2018 was holidays, for 9,7% visit to friends and relatives and for 1,9% business.
MARINA INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTS
Marina projects in particular, have seen a surge of investor interest from all over the world. The completion of Limassol Marina, the construction of the Ayia Napa-Makronisos Marina and the signing of the agreement for developing the Paralimni Marina, offer luxurious residences, world-class yachting facilities, a variety of retail boutiques, waterfront fine dining options, recreational and nightlife experiences for visitors to the destination.
- Limassol (Lemesos) Marina
Limassol marina is situated in the bay of Lemesos, a short stroll away from the heart of Lemesos city. It has birthing facilities for 1000 yachts of various sizes and offers luxury apartments and exclusive villas, complete with a spa and fitness club, leisure and cultural facilities.
- Ayia Napa Marina
The Ayia Napa Marina is situated on the south-eastern coast of Cyprus in the crystal clear waters of Makronisos area. Its estimated total cost is around €250m and its development includes 190 apartments and 29 luxury houses. It has birthing facilities for 600 yachts of various sizes. Marine works are expected to be completed by June 2019, and the entire project by 2021.
- Paralimni marina
The Paralimni Marina will be developed with focus on the new 300 berth marina basin set aside the existing fishing boat shelter of Ayios Nikolaos. The marina will be designed with a landscape street scene design and complete with a blend of specialty shops, bars and restaurants and waterfront apartments with the potential to introduce a number of private villas.
HOTEL & RESORT UPDATES
Park Lane Hotel
The PARKLANE in Limassol, designed by The Harrods Design Studio, is currently undergoing a reconstruction and is scheduled to open its doors on 27th May 2019 as the PARKLANE, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa.
Located on the waterfront, the hotel will consist of 53 suites, most with their own private pools, and 222 luxury guestrooms. Among the extensive facilities on offer, will be a conference centre with a theatrical Ballroom, 10 restaurant and bar outlets, a Thalasso spa including 3 Russian Bagna Suites, and 3 beautifully designed outdoor swimming pools, including a seawater pool. In addition, there will also be the Princess & the Pirate Kids 'Park consisting of a Castle, a lake with a Pirate Ship, water-games and a Kids 'Restaurant.
The Resort & Spa will also introduce its world-class Football Academy in partnership with Football Escapes featuring coaching from football legends Rio Ferdinand and Bobby Zamora. The academy will see some of the world's best footballers share their tips and techniques with the next generation of Premier League hopefuls. Children staying at Parklane will benefit from the knowledge and experience of footballing legends, in their quest to make it to the top.
The week long courses in partnership with Football Escapes, offer one training session a day and are available on select dates throughout 2019 to children between the ages of five and 15. Children receive a full kit, including shirt, shorts and socks, and expert training from a selection of UEFA licensed coached from renowned English Premier League clubs.
Off the pitch, parents can enjoy 25 acres of lush landscaped gardens at Parklane, 300 meters of sandy Mediterranean coastline, a choice of three swimming pools, the world-class Kalloni Spa and a wealth of restaurants and bars offering the finest international and local cuisine.
Developed under the registered Made-for-Two™ brand, the new Amavi Hotel is the first custom-designed couples-only hotel in Cyprus, scheduled to open on 23 February 2019.
Two Radisson Blu Hotels to Open in 2018 and 2019
Cyprus' first Radisson Blu Hotel and Residence is set to open in an area close to Larnaka port. The 12-storey Radisson Blu hotel, with a total of 106 rooms, is expected to see its completion before the beginning of the summer 2018 season. The hotel is located about 15 minutes' drive from Larnaka international airport and so is perfectly located for hosting both leisure and business visitors. There are also plans for a second Radisson Blu, close to Larnaka airport, which would be the island's first airport hotel and conference centre, to open in 2019. The hotel, 1km from the airport will have 180 guest-rooms, extensive conference and events facilities. For more information visit: https://www.radissonblu.com/en/hotel-larnaca/location.
The Amara to Open in Spring 2019
The Amara, a hotel masterpiece combining timeless elegance with indulgent opulence is poised to make its grand debut in 2019. Named for the ancient Greek word amarantos meaning 'everlasting', the ultra-deluxe, five-star, AMARA – nestled near to the famed royal ancient kingdom of Amathus on the outskirts of Limassol – with 207 all sea view rooms - will feature a host of facilities, spanning a signature spa and palatial pool, to grand ballroom and landmark branded restaurants headed by world renowned chefs.
SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL UPDATE
Accessible Beaches
Cyprus not only boasts the cleanest bathing waters in Europe but now has 64 stunning Blue Flag beaches (widely considered the top accolade when it comes to beach quality). As part of its continued efforts to offer tourists the best quality beaches, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation also recently announced that 47 beaches are now accessible to people with special access needs (26 of those are fully accessible and 21 partly accessible).
ANCIENT SITES – NEW DISCOVERIES
This year, a rare Roman horse race mosaic was found in the village of Akaki. Dating from the 4th Century AD, the mosaic features scenes from a chariot race and is 26-metres-long.
SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS UPDATE
Museums
The Larnaka Municipal Historical Archives Museum has reopened this year after extensive renovations. Situated below the Municipal Historical Archives, the museum includes a large collection of coins from the city-kingdom of Kition (late 6th century), along with photographs of the city from 1850 onwards.
Limassol Casino
The main resort will be the largest casino in Europe, with 136 gaming tables, 1,200 gaming machines, a luxury hotel with 500 rooms with the capacity for expansion, a conference hall that can accommodate audiences of 1,500, and a wellness centre.
A temporary casino has been open in place and will operate until the multi-million Euro casino, which will be built next to My Mall at Zakaki, opens for business in 2020.
-Ends-
For further information or images, please contact:
Baillie Horwood/Emma Arthurs/Nicole Lovett/James Brooke.
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8927
E: Cyprus@rooster.co.uk
www.rooster.co.uk
About Cyprus:
Cyprus – the third largest island in the Mediterranean – attracts over three million tourists annually. Cyprus is a year-round island appealing to a wide range of personal tastes and lifestyles, from families and couples, to the most discerning of culture and nature-oriented travellers.
Tourists are attracted by the island's legendary hospitality, glorious coastline and stunning mountain villages. There is something to suit everyone – family resorts, world class spas, golf courses, marinas, agro-tourism and food and wine trails. The active can enjoy the warm waters of Cyprus for diving and waterskiing while adventure seekers can explore the island's beauty with trekking or bird-watching tours, while golfing enthusiasts play on award winning courses.
The island boasts the cleanest bathing waters in Europe, combined with a rich cultural heritage, a variety of agro-tourism projects and a wide choice of special interest activities.
Cyprus is a blue-skied, world class tourist destination, where 10,000 years of history and culture meet contemporary diversity and exquisite natural beauty. The island is a mosaic of nature and culture, a whole magic world concentrated in a small, warm and hospitable island in the Mediterranean Sea, located at the crossroad of three continents, between East and West, offering a multidimensional qualitative tourist experience.
For more information: www.visitcyprus.com
