CTO aims for 2.9 mln tourists this year

The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) aims to boost tourist arrival numbers to 2.9 mln this year, Chairman Agelos Loizou told the House Finance Committee which was discussing the Organization’s budget.

After the meeting, Loizou said that the CTO is aiming for an increase of 6% to 7% in both arrivals and revenue. He said that 2015 began with unfavourable prospects, however it ended with an increase of 9% in tourist arrivals, while the increase in revenue is expected to reach 4.1%.

Loizou told the MPs that the CTO had an initial meeting with the Spanish firm THR consultants to prepare a new study on the strategic CTO design, which according to the schedule will be ready in eight months. CTO has also prepared its own business plan for the period 2016 to mid-2017. The CTO Chairman pointed out that the resources for the promotion of the tourism product should be proportionate to the contribution of tourism to the GDP.

A representative of the Tourism and Energy Ministry said that the establishment of a Deputy Ministry for Tourism, in conjunction with a restructured Cyprus Tourism Organisation, is the predominant scenario for the new form of the tourist product management.

He noted that the CTO could retain two thirds of the powers and responsibilities and give one third to the Deputy Ministry.

Loizou said that the Deputy Ministry will deal with the political issues and the CTO will deal with the promotion of tourism.

In relation to the new targeted policy to promote the tourism product, Loizou said that CTO changed its strategy and chose a more generic advertising, aiming at tour operators and airlines.