Cyprus Mail 28 September 2020 - by Cyprus News Agency
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, Cyprus has the potential to emerge as a first-class winter tourist destination due to its very good epidemiological picture compared to other destinations, deputy minister of tourism Savvas Perdios has said, noting that this would however depend on the stability in the categorisation of countries based on their epidemiological situation.
In statements to CNA, Perdios said that there are tourists willing to travel, despite the pandemic, which became evident through arrivals from Britain in August, although they were requested to present a negative coronavirus test.
Perdios noted that for October there is an interest from Britain and Sweden, and that there was also an interest in Cyprus for the winter months. He pointed out that the deputy ministry did not wish to miss this opportunity.
Referring to World Tourism Day – which was marked on Saturday — Perdios said that under different circumstances this day would be dedicated to presenting achievements. However, due to the pandemic, it is dedicated to examining actions to be taken in order to restore worldwide tourism to the 2019 levels.
Cyprus, he said, is at a crossroads regarding tourism, and new forms of tourism must be examined, to include the countryside and mountainous areas, as well as all-season tourism.
Perdios said the deputy ministry of tourism would be expediting actions included in the National Tourism Strategy to this end.