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| Ruins of Bellapais Monastery, Cyprus |
While the economic situation in Europe has been improving over the last year, not all countries are enjoying a strong bounceback from the downturn. The Mediterranean island country of Cyprus is seeing a notable drop in numbers, down 6.6 percent year-on-year. While efforts are reportedly under way to extend the tourist period and turn the island into an all-year-round destination, the decrease in visitors is having a farreaching effect.
Last month, Tasoula Manaridis, director of the Cyprus Tourism Organization, announced the closing of its New York Office effective September 14. “This decision was a result of the current financial crisis in Cyprus and also a decision by the CTO to restructure its tourism offices abroad,” Manaridis said in the statement, which went on the thank “our tour operators, the media, the Archaeological Institute of America, travel agents, airlines, ETC and all travel professionals that supported Cyprus all these years. We are hoping that you will continue your efforts to promote Cyprus in North America just like we did during the last 20 years.”