Ayia Napa enjoys best year in a decade

A massive increase in tourism from Russia, more bookings from Britain and instability in the Middle East have helped kick-start a tourism boom in Ayia Napa which is being lauded as the best year in a decade.

It was announced yesterday that hotel occupancy in Ayia Napa and Protaras reached full capacity during the summer period with the added bonus of the holiday season stretching till November. Lakis Avraamides, director of Ayia Napa-Protaras Regional Tourism Board told the Cyprus Mail that several factors had resulted in the tourist boom.

“We are very happy, this is one of the best years in the last decade – the best one was exactly ten years ago and we are almost approaching those figures – so yes, we are happy.” Numbers have been boosted by the flow of British tourists which has also increased compared to the same period last year. According to Mayor Antonis Tsokkos, Britain remains the main tourist market, with Russia following close second.

“We are very keen to maintain the British market and indeed increase it – we will never fall into a trap where we will only count on one market,” Tsokkos told the Cyprus Mail. “Russians are though taking a big share of the market” Tsokkos said the current success of his resort was the result of hard work from the government, municipality, local businesses and the tourist development board.

The mayor did however stress that the growing problem of ‘all inclusive’ holidays was affecting the resort. Restaurant and bar owners have continuously complained that all-inclusive tourists add ‘absolutely nothing’ to the local economy. “With all inclusive, not everybody gets the full benefit of hotel occupancy, so we are very keen to encourage private individuals to come to Ayia Napa so everyone can benefit.”

Earlier this summer First Choice holidays started taking only all-inclusive bookings, which include flights, transfers, hotel accommodation and three meals a day, plus unlimited local drinks for a single one-off fee. Avraamides says that Russian sun-seekers have become the latest target of tourism officials. He has personally been to Russia seven times this year to promote local tourism in what he describes as Ayia Napa ‘growing market’.

“The signs that it would be a good year for the Ayia Napa and Protaras came from the very beginning of the year, because for the past two years Ayia Napa has been the main market for Russian tourists. This year the Russians increased their capacity to Cyprus by 100,000 seats” According to the CTO, 223,000 tourists from Russia visited the island last year, a staggering jump of 50 per cent in comparison to 2009. Avraamides added that concern over political and social upheaval continued to deter many of those who in the past may have considered booking holidays in the likes of Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

“The problems in Egypt and Tunisia meant some tourists came here as well, so we had a feeling that it would be a very good season.” Avraamides said that there is universal relief amongst tourism officials that Ayia Napa has shaken off its clubbing image, which brought endless bad publicity in the last decade.

“Surprisingly, there are some people who still think that Ayia Napa is only a clubbing resort, which we do have only during July and August – but you’ll see the difference between the image and the reality if you go around the resort. The twenty to thirty thousand people here are not just teenagers – they are mostly families.” Separately, it was announced yesterday that the hotel occupancy rate in Larnaca had also reached 100 per cent with the majority of tourists coming from traditional Cyprus’ markets as Britain, Russia and Germany.

New ambulances arrive

Eight new ambulances arrived at the Nicosia General Hospital yesterday to bolster the current fleet. According to Health Minister Christos Patsalides two of the new vehicles are four-wheel drive in order to handle difficult terrain. Another 15 ambulances are expected in September, with another six arriving by the beginning of 2012.

In an effort to get ambulances to the site of an emergency a lot quicker Patsalides said that they were planning to open four new ambulance stations in Lakatamia, the center of Limassol, Oroklini and Peyia. GPS will also be installed on the ambulances to allow the Call Control Centre the chance to know where each ambulance is, thus “managing the fleet and the calls coming in a lot better.”

Woman seriously injured in head-on collision

A Nicosia woman, 57, was yesterday in critical condition after a head-on collision at lunchtime on Monday in the Larnaca district. .

The accident occurred just after 1.30pm when Maria Schiza, her husband, 65, and her brother-in-law, 64, were on Makarios Avenue in Kiti headed to Meneou. At the Hania Street junction Schiza’s brother-in-law, who was driving, attempted to turn right and collided into an oncoming car driven by a 27-year-old man from Dromolaxia. All four passengers were injured and rushed to Larnaca general hospital.

Schiza was diagnosed with fractures and doctors later determined she had also suffered internal bleeding. She was admitted for emergency surgery and doctors operated on her until 3am yesterday. Due to the severity of her condition the 57-year-old is in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Police said neither of the two drivers had been drinking and that all four passengers had been wearing seat belts.

Meanwhile on Sunday night a 28-year-old Romanian man who was nearly four times over the legal drinking limit, crashed into a parked motorbike on Anexartisias street in Oroklini. The Romanian, who was uninjured in the collision, was arrested.

12,000 square metres of forest destroyed

Twelve thousand square meters of Larnaca district forest land was yesterday burned to the ground when a fire broke out and quickly spread to young pines, cypresses, olive trees and brushwood.

The blaze started at 10.40am in Aspromouttis Forest just beyond Oroklini. According to a Forestry Department statement the fire was brought under control within 40 minutes with the help of 16 fire fighters and six fire engines. The cause of the blaze is under investigation and firemen remained at the scene to ensure no other outbreak occurred.

Meanwhile a fire in a Platres restaurant kitchen was yesterday brought under control but not before completely destroying it, the Fire Service said. Fire Service spokesman Liza Kemidji said the blaze was brought under control with the use of six fire engines from the rural Platres Station, Limassol Fire Stations, the Troodos Fire Station and the Episkopi station.

Tropical fruit from Asia, Africa...and Pyla

The cultivation of locally produced tropical fruits is on the rise, following a recent attempt to introduce dragon fruits on the market. Passion fruits, papayas, avocados, kiwis, karelas and dragon fruits are now found in various villages, including Polis Chrysochous, Gialias, Pyla, Kokkinochoria and Dasaki tis Achnas. Originating from Asia, Africa, Australia and the Caribbean, these fruits require very specific weather conditions and only a few European regions prove suitable for their cultivation. Cyprus, whose warm climate has always favored the production of fruits, seems to be one of them. According to the Meteorological Service, several tropical phenomena have been observed in Cyprus the last few years.

“There has been an increase in both maximum day and minimum night temperatures, while the rate of increase of night minimum temperatures is faster. Moreover, intense rainfall during summer months in mountainous areas and the capital is becoming more frequent,” said a Meteorological Service official.

“All these phenomena resemble those of countries with a tropical climate, although Cyprus’ climate is still classified as Mediterranean,” he said, adding that these slow changes in our climate could possibly allow for the cultivation of more tropical fruits in the future.

“The subtropical climate observed in several villages of southern Paphos as well as in the Larnaca and Famagusta districts has encouraged producers to grow different tropical fruits,” said Agriculture Ministry official, Alexis Gavriel.

“The first attempts were made in the 1960s with the introduction of bananas in Paphos, while lotus fruits and papayas following in the 1980s. With the recent liberalization of imports, local producers can plant and grow exotic fruits,” he said.

“Dragon fruits are probably the newest fruit on the Cyprus market, although for the moment very few are produced and are mostly for private use. Papayas and avocados are grown to a larger extent.”

Dragon fruit or Pitaya is a highly nutritious pink fruit, which has very few calories. It features a light sweet taste and it is mainly chosen by people of Asian origin. According to a local producer from Dasaki tis Achnas, in Cyprus dragon fruits were originally cultivated in greenhouses, but it soon became clear that they were well-adapted to the weather conditions of our island. Another exotic fruit which is relatively new to the local market is karela, otherwise known as bitter melon. A rather unknown fruit, it is popular in Asia for the preparation of salads. Bitter melon is usually eaten when it is still green. It has a watery texture and is similar to cucumber, although more bitter. It is widely produced in Asia and Africa, and now in Pyla.

The mild Cyprus winters also allow for the cultivation and future economic exploitation of winter tropical fruits, such as bananas, avocados, pomegranates, papayas and others. Avocados are currently produced in Paphos, kiwis in Limassol and papayas in Larnaca. It is true that demand for such fruits in Cyprus is relatively small and mainly comes from tourists who visit the island during summer months. However, there are hopes Cypriot producers may benefit from European markets, where demand is constantly increasing and supply is limited.

Oroklini Council Household Rubbish Collections

The Oroklini Community Council would like to inform all local residents that the disposal of all Garden waste, rubbish and house equipment will be collected by a private contractor.

For the guidance, please take careful note of the below:

• House equipment includes old furniture and toys etc.
• Garden waste materials include trees, tree brunches, bushes and grass.
• All Garden waste materials must be placed in plastic bags or boxes and properly tied up.
• Anyone who does not comply with reference to paragraph 3 (above) will be responsible for the cleaning procedure.
• The rubbish must be placed in discernible and be distinguished from normal home rubbish (in front of the house).
• All rubbish originating from building constructions or from buildings being renovated is the direct responsibility of the owners of the constructions in addition to that of the contractors.

Owners of houses in a complex have to specify a common place for the rubbish to be deposited outside the complex.

In the case of electrical appliances, please inform the Community Council on number 24 644744 for the collection of such appliances.

PROGRAM

• 5 September 2011
• 3 October 2011
• 7 November 2011
• 5 December 2011

Rubbish must be placed for collection 2 days before the set day (indicated above).

Note that whoever puts rubbish for collection after the set day will be obliged to put the rubbish back inside their property until the next set collection date (indicated above).

People that do not respect or obey the above instructions will be prosecuted.

The Oroklini Community Council is relying on your collective cooperation.

Source: larnacanews.net

Village counts cost

Nicos Asprou, community leader of Mari, the village that suffered the most damages from the shock wave of the deadly explosion at the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base, told CNA that the inhabitants of the village have now begun to repair the damages to the degree possible.

He said house roofs have caved in, the village’s church has been razed to the ground, windows and glass panels have shattered, doors and window frames have been dislodged, and there is not a household intact.
Asprou said Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis and Larnaca District Office teams have visited the village and discussed ways to repair the damage.
Already, teams are clearing the roads from debris and repairs will continue.
Sylikiotis and Larnaca District Officer Charalambos Eliades also visited other areas, where they inspected damages from the blast.
Eliades told CNA that Limassol District Office teams are also visiting affected areas, adding that on Tuesday experts will be visiting houses to make sure that there are no structural problems.
He furthermore assured that any assistance necessary will be provided.
Source: cyprusweekly.com.cy

Long-awaited paramedic courses due to start

THE MUCH-NEEDED and long-awaited upgrade to the state ambulance service will come a step nearer this week, with the announcement of 75 interview candidates for the first paramedics training course, pencilled in to start in September.

More than 350 people applied to join the course, with 200 going on to take the written exam. The top 75 will now be whittled down to a final 50 at interview.
These will then go become the island’s first Cyprus-trained and qualified paramedics, with 24 expected to fill recently created government positions during the first year.
These would be split into four teams of six and posted to rural ambulance centres in Anthoupoli, central Limassol, Oroklini and Peyia, while the remainder would be eligible to apply for jobs in the private healthcare sector.
“Everything is going well, and we are hoping to hold the interviews before summer. The programme, instructors and the course are all ready (for the first students to begin training),” senior nursing officer Ioannis Leontiou said yesterday:
The government is also in the final stages of procuring 28 much-needed EU standards compliant ambulances, which Leontiou expects to arrive by the end of July or early August.
They were due to arrive this month but the agreement was held up at the communication and public works ministry’s electromechanical service department.
Leontiou said that under the terms of the procurement agreement, delivery of the ambulances was due within 35 weeks of the April contract signing.
Currently Cyprus is served by between 43 and 50 ambulances, each with a driver, who has no requirement to undergo paramedic training, and a duty nurse.
In addition to the ambulances and paramedics, Leontiou also plans to provide training for drivers and nurses to meet the requirements of a piece of emergency services legislature, which is currently pending attorney general - and parliamentary - approval.
Asked what will happen to the current drivers, Leontiou said: “There are currently 87 drivers in permanent posts, with 10 or 11 in the rural centres, and they will keep working during the transition period.”
The nurses are currently assigned to ambulances according to their hospital rota, so these measures will also help to address the current nurse shortages.
Along with the GPS-equipped control room that began operation in February, the measures should address two fundamental problems that have beset the service to date: the absence of an autonomous structure and a lack of training.
Source: cyprus-mail.com