By Bejay Browne.
Paphos municipality is working hard to reinvigorate the old town and encourage more visitors into the city centre with a wide range of new initiatives, including the restoration and reuse of old buildings.
The municipality is focusing on changing the ‘character’ of the city centre and concerted efforts are underway to ensure that Paphos is a ‘smart city in every way’. This will ensure that it attracts residents, visitors from abroad and from other areas of Cyprus, a spokesman said.
“The municipality is encouraging people to open up new businesses in the centre, particularly young entrepreneurs. This will help to give life to the old town centre. It is our mission to change the area and we have already witnessed steps forwards, particularly with the infrastructure.”
To this end, the municipality is encouraging the renovation and use of old properties in the area which are both Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot owned.
“Where the ministry of the interior is responsible for these buildings and they ask the opinion of the municipality about a new business being opened, we are giving a very positive response. These buildings are beautiful and where they are being renovated and restored, it is changing the character of the area.”
A recent tender saw businesses bid to take on one of the old town’s renovated buildings, which was most recently used as a gastronomy centre. Found in the heart of the old town in the municipal market area, the successful business will have the use of the building, which is around 160m2, for 12 years.
“New businesses have been popping up in the last few years and diversification and innovation is now key.”
The local tourism board and the head of the Friends of Paphos old town association both agree.
“The local authorities need to encourage diversification and different usage of the buildings, not just for cafes, restaurants and bars. If we look to some other old towns in resorts outside Cyprus, this will be of benefit,” a spokesman of the local tourism board said.
One of the biggest problems facing Paphos is its small population which is why diversification should ensure that there are things for locals, travellers and foreign visitors to do and enjoy, he added.
But although Paphos is ‘trying its best’, not enough is being done by all sides involved and the old town is still dead during the daytime, said Kyriakos Kyriakou of Friends of Paphos old town.
“More needs to be done to attract a larger percentage of the millions of tourists into the old town that are visiting the island and Paphos each year,” he said. Kyriakou owns three shops in the area and has had businesses in the old town for more than 30 years.
He said that the 50,000 or so Paphos residents already have a variety of choices with destinations including, the harbour, Ta Bania and Paphos Mall, as well as the old town. He said that more must be done to encourage people to visit time and again. For example a direct bus link to the old town from Kato Paphos is a must, he said.
