Paphos nearly ‘fully booked’, as it prepares to stage Mozart’s “Seraglio” opera
The resort town of Paphos, popular for family vacations and host to the European Culture Capital of 2017, has reached a point where it has to stop holiday reservations, as hotels are fully booked, the town’s mayor Phedon Phedonos said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of this year’s 19th annual opera, Mozart’s “The Abduction from the Seraglio” to be staged at the scenic castle in the harbour in the first week of September, Phedonos told the Financial Mirror that “whereas Cyprus in general has enjoyed record arrivals, rising at rates of about 10%, we have witnessed an increase of 13% and we have a shortage of beds.”
Phedonos said that hotels have already activated their ‘stop bookings’ feature for most of July and August, and leading into September, far ahead of the 15-day notice usually given to tour operators.
“If we had more beds, I’m sure our occupancy would rise at a higher rate,” he said, adding that this year’s Pafos2017 cultural feast has also contributed, both with arrivals and greater awareness among quality holidaymakers.
However, he said that potential opera-goers should not be disappointed, as there are smaller hotels that may still have some rooms available for the September 1, 2 and 3 weekend.
Phedonos admitted that during the opera weekend, hotels are fully booked, while some opera lovers arrive from neighboring countries on charter flights only for the event, as not all 6,600 tickets sold for the opera are long-stay visitors.
The year-long cultural extravaganza has been dubbed “Open Factory”, as the entire Paphos town centre, surroundings and district have been recruited to host musical, arts and cultural events suited to all tastes and ages.
The opera, hosted by the Pafos Aphrodite Festival cooperative of local hoteliers and partner municipalities, had been decided since 2012, when the Pafos2017 cultural capital bid had been submitted and was jointly awarded to the island’s coastal town and Aarhus in Denmark.
“This year’s opera, to be performed by the Parma Opera Organisation SEFAC and the Pisa Theatre Company, accompanied by the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra and local choristers for the first time, was a key factor that helped us clinch the European Culture Capital recognition,” said Pafos2017 board member Andreas Hadjithomas.
“This year’s opera has rightly been placed as the centerpiece for the Open Factory festivities and is truly multinational as it includes an American director (Leigh Holman), an Italian theatre company, a German opera, with a host of performers from Europe, Russia and Ukraine, as well as local talents.”
The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra
is also taking part for the fifth consecutive year, a partnership that will continue, organisers said.
Speaking at the same event, Italy’s ambassador Guido Cerboni said that “Cyprus has indeed become a fertile ground for opera music, and the Parma opera company has put together some of the best opera performers.”
Bank of Cyprus’ Premier Club has chipped in as main corporate sponsor for the event, together with Kanika Hotels and the Alexander the Great, while the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Cyprus Tourism Organisation are founding supporters ever since the opera began.
As regards the cost of the opera and the Pafos2017 yearlong events, mayor Phedonos is not worried. He believes that with wise economic management he can keep the books balanced, despite the EUR 8 mln price tag for the entire year.
Having been elected in January 2015 on a platform of tidying up city hall, that had been facing corruption charges involving the former mayor and senior officials, Phedonos is proud that has reduced the initial budget for the cultural year from an initial ‘unaffordable’ EUR 22 mln.
“After all, we are investing for the future of our town and many of these exhibits or facilities will remain. We are also completing a major refurbishment programme that has given a facelift to most of the town, that is now a beautiful holiday centre, with minor projects expected to be delivered in July and August,” Phedonos said.
Photios Georgiou, owner-manager of the Agapinor Hotel very near the revamped Paphos square and Governor’s office, next to the open market, said that the area has been filled with new cafés that is attracting many newcomers.
“It’s become a beautiful place to be for your holidays, and a great place to stay and enjoy a world-calibre opera,” Georghiou said.
Tickets for the opera are available online at EUR 25, 40, 50 and 70 from www.pafc.com.cy.