Paphos has most ‘majestic’ sunsets
By Bejay Browne The Paphos
regional board of tourism is inviting all those involved in
the industry to embrace a current effort and to contribute
in some way, to the promotion of the emergence of the ‘most
majestic sunset in Cyprus’. The tourism board is
undertaking a programme to promote sunsets in the region as
the ‘most majestic’ in Cyprus, to both locals and visitors.
Nasos Hadjigeorgiou, the head of the Paphos regional
board of tourism told the Paphos Post that steps are being
taken to promote the stunning sunsets which take in a number
of measures, including public exhibition and events.
“As from now, we will take different actions to promote our
sunsets which we have all agreed are the most majestic in
Cyprus and will promote this unique experience which sets us
apart from other destinations,” he said. Preliminary
investigations have found the following sites as the most
beautiful to enjoy a stunning sunset: the birthplace
of Aphrodite in Kouklia, spots along the coast of
Geroskipou, Paphos harbour and the lighthouse area, Paphos
old town and parts of Moutallos Hills, areas of the coastal
front of Chlorakas, Lemba and Kissonerga, Coral Bay, the Sea
Caves, Agios Georgios port, Lara in the Akamas and spots in
Polis Chrysochous and Neo Chorio.
However, a full list with
descriptions will be available in June. The tourism
head said: “The locations to watch these sunsets are superb
and meaningful, we have amazing skies. We have a great view
of the sunset and the scenery and nature are unique. Even in
the same place every sunset is different from day to day,”
he said. This unique selling point is an advantage
for the region and after discussions, the promotional plan
is being backed by individual hotels, and other interested
parties, alongside the local tourism board. “We are
completing an inventory of the best spots to view the sunset
in Paphos and issue electronic and print material and other
means such as websites to promote them.”In the near future,
summer events will be held to highlight the sunsets, such as
photographic and art exhibitions, as well as other events
which will enable the public to interact, he said.
“Hoteliers are also preparing in- house promotions to
feature Paphos sunsets, such as wine tasting events and
cocktails during sunset, he said. In June, a list of
the top spots to view the ‘most majestic sunsets on the
island’ will be released and the tourism board’s website
will be updated with more information, he said.
Further information will be available from June at:
www.visitpafos.org Paphos in top ten
2017 European destinations By
Bejay Browne Paphos
has been named the ninth best European destination in Lonely
Planet’s top ten places for international travellers to
visit this summer. The travel media company is one
of the world’s leading guidebook publishers, and Paphos
received the accolade in Lonely Planet’s Best in Europe
2017, which highlights, ‘the most exciting European
destinations to visit this year’. “Lonely Planet’s
experts have highlighted the spectacular monuments and
historic sites that visitors to the city can discover in
Paphos, the first capital of Cyprus in Roman times, this
year given new life with hundreds of activities and events
celebrating regional culture,” said a spokesman for the
company. Paphos currently holds the European capital
of culture title, an honour it shares with Aarhus in
Denmark. “The award brings with it world attention,
significant cultural investment and the opportunity to
showcase Paphos culture. And there’s much to admire,” the
company said. “The island of Aphrodite has weathered so many
occupations that history has piled monument upon monument on
its sun-kissed shores: catacombs, temples, castles, medieval
baths, Roman-era mosaics, and the Unesco World Heritage
sites of Kato Paphos and the Tombs of the Kings all bring to
life a fascinating bygone era.”
Inspired by this history, Lonely
Planet said that Paphos was transforming itself, both
socially and spatially, into an Open Air Factory of 300
accessible events aimed at building bridges between
cultures. Zagreb in Croatia took the top spot in the
list as Europe’s number one destination this year, followed
by Gotland, Sweden at number two, Galicia in Spain is third,
Northern Montenegro is in fourth place, Leeds in the UK came
fifth, Alentejo in Portugal claimed sixth place, Northern
Germany is at seven, Moldova is eighth, Paphos is at number
nine and taking the last spot in the top ten, is Le Havre in
France. Prestigious Cyprus
International film festival held in Paphos in June
By Bejay Browne Paphos is preparing for the Cyprus
International Film Festival (CYIFF) which will take place in
the town in June. The annual festival, now in its
twelfth year, will hold free film screenings in Paphos from
June 14 – 24 at the University of Neapolis amphitheatre, as
well as in the renovated Attikon cinema on June 18, 19 and
20, in the parallel programme of Pafos2017. Festival
Director Petra Terzi, said that she felt it was important to
hold the festival in Paphos this year as it is celebrating
its title of European capital of culture. This is the second
time that the festival has taken place entirely in Paphos,
previously it was held in Nicosia. Last year the
programme included more than 100 short and feature films of
recent production. The 12th Cyprus International
Film Festival will be held 14-24 June, 2017, in Paphos 2017.
Email: cyiff2017@gmail.com
www.cyprusfilmfestival.org Polis set to
get artificial reef By Bejay
Browne Polis will get an artificial reef, according
to tourism officials. The reef will attract diving tourism
and protect marine biodiversity, a spokesman for the Paphos
regional board of tourism said. This will be the
second reef in the district of Paphos and it is included in
the fisheries department’s plans for 2014-2020. “The
main aim of these reefs is to protect marina natural
resources and develop biodiversity and marine life, as well
a more sustainable and responsible form of tourism,” he
said. The fisheries department had studied possible
areas for the reef, which fall under the protection of the
Natura 2000 Plan. Artificial reefs are constructions
intentionally placed on the seabed that aim to imitate the
properties of a natural reef. “They serve as a haven, a
place to feed, reproduce, and grow in size and number for
living marine organisms.” Mayor of Polis Chrysochous
Giotis Papachristofi said that the government will foot the
bill, which will amount to tens of thousands of euros.
“We are expecting this project to get underway in 2018, I
don’t know how they will create this sea park yet, as I
don’t have all the details.” However, Papachristofi
said the establishment of the reef is a good idea as it will
help to promote diving tourism and snorkelling with both
local and visitors. The reef will be sunk onto the
sea bed in an area of sea stretching between Latchi harbour
and the five star Anassa hotel, he added. The effort
contributes to a wider general plan for the district of
Paphos that follows sustainable and responsible tourism, he
said. Paphos looks to become a ‘smart
city’ By Bejay Browne
Two Paphos projects have been given the green light, which
officials say will move the area close to becoming a
fully-fledged ‘Smart city’. A spokesman for Paphos
municipality said that two European programmes have been
approved and are due to get underway in Paphos in July.
“This is important for Paphos, as we aim to establish
ourselves as a smart city which will help to change the way
in which Paphos is viewed,” he said. Both proposals
were submitted under the INTERREG V-A Cross-Border
Cooperation Programme: Greece-Cyprus 2014-2020. The
first project, which Paphos proposed and submitted, sees the
town in the role of lead partner in a co-financing
programme, which has a total budget of €848,000. Paphos will
contribute €400,000. The project provides for the deployment
of city-based applications and infrastructures, for which
Paphos partners up with the twinned municipalities of Chania
and Lesbos. “This end will be achieved through a
package of advanced digital services, including the creation
of a digital platform, applications to support visitors and
visibility of culture, tourism and entrepreneurship, the
development of e-government applications and the supply and
installation of Wi-Fi hotspots and touch screens,” he said.
The project also incorporates a business plan for the
full implementation of the ‘Smart City’ actions, a strategic
plan including: ‘City Marketing’, ‘City Branding’ and
others, he said. The second project is titled,
‘ECORouTS’, and aims to reduce carbon emissions from urban
transport and provides for the municipality of Paphos to
supply at least one electric bus for passengers, the
installation of a charging station, development of a
Telematics system and green path development, he added.
For this project, which has a total budget of €1.6 million,
Paphos is a partner (not a lead partner) and will pay around
€370,000. The municipalities of Heraklion, Chania and
Aradippou are also involved. Paphos
municipality hoists rainbow flag
By Bejay Browne Paphos
municipality hoisted the LGBT flag at Paphos town hall, for
the first time, in support of Cyprus Pride. Equal
rights activist, South African Cypriot, Zac Theophanous, 38,
told the Paphos Post that he undertook the initiative as he
felt it is particularly important for Paphos to show it is
forward thinking this year, as it holds the title of
European capital of culture 2017. “I had the idea of
hoisting the LGBT flag at the Paphos Town Hall during Cyprus
Pride Week and I wanted to show that our town supports
equality and equal rights,” he said. The hoisting of
the flag came just ahead of the Cyprus Pride Parade, held in
Nicosia. Proactive Theophanous sent a request to the
mayor and the municipal council and they voted in favour of
the move. “The mayor of Paphos, Phedonas Phedonos,
was very open to the idea and accepting. He is a wonderful
man,” he said. He added that it is important to him
to show that there is acceptance in the community for those
that feel they have to hide their sexuality. As both
Nicosia municipality and Lakatamia municipality have flown
the flag in the past, the 38-year- old said it was time that
Paphos did the same, especially in the year of the European
Capital of culture to shown that Paphos is ‘all- inclusive’.
“This is not about LGBT, gender, race or sexual
orientation, but it’s about equality for all,” he said.
Theophanous has the backing of Accept LGBT
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