Summer tourism reaches record levels and winter tourism promising
By Bejay Browne
 
Tourist arrivals in Cyprus rose 17 per cent in August to a record 458,645 compared with 2015, according to the statistical service.
 
Cystat also said on its website: “In January to August 2016, tourist arrivals rose to 2,196,017 which is 19 per cent more compared to the respective period of 2015. July was also a record month.
 
The rise in tourist arrivals in August consisted of a 37 per cent annual increase in visitors from Russia, Cyprus’s second major market, to 122,843 and a 9.9 per cent increase from the UK to 172,236, which is the largest source of tourist arrivals, they said.
 
Arrivals from Israel and Greece rose 61 per cent and 17 per cent, while the number of German tourists fell in August 6.1 per cent.
 
It is estimated that there will be a record 3.1 million arrivals this year, according to Tourism Minister, Giorgos Lakkotrypis.
 
He said that the projections for the winter period are encouraging as well. Winter tourism has increased by 35 per cent over the past three years and is expected to grow further, he said.
 
According to newspaper, Phileleftheros, the minister said he was already looking ahead to 2017. He pointed out that winter tourism hadn’t yet reached peak summer time levels, as it is boosted by specific types of tourism.
 
Winter 2015-2016 saw around 300,000 tourists arrive in Cyprus.
 
“It is unrealistic to say that we can develop our tourism overnight, and to achieve growth, several factors must contribute. Hotels and all other associated services must remain open. How will we attract tourists when they will have nothing to do except stay inside the hotel because its surroundings are dead? There is a series of things that need to be improved for better performance in winter tourism but I believe that we are on track,” he added.
 
He also expressed certainty that this year’s record arrivals would be repeated next year.
 
“It is our top priority to not only repeat this year’s performance, but also to create sustainable growth thereafter.”
 
Commenting on long-term plans he referred to the golf courses, marinas and the planned casino resort.
 
 
The eleventh International film festival in Paphos
By Bejay Browne
 
A hugely successful event, the 11th Cyprus International film festival (CYIFF) wrapped up in Paphos after being held solely in the town for the first time.
 
At the award ceremony, which was held at Technopolis at the end of September, Mayor of Paphos, Phedonas Phedonos, thanked the festival organisers and pledged both his and the municipality’s ongoing support, adding that in future, the municipality would also support financially.
 
“This is a very worthy event and even more so as Paphos will hold the Cultural Capital of Europe title next year, he said.
 
The programme included 100 short and feature films of recent production from 37 countries. Selected films were screened at K-Cineplex in Kings Avenue Mall and the Amphitheatre at Neapolis University.
 
Festival Director Petra Terzi said that Paphos will be home to the festival from now on, it has previously taken place in Nicosia, with some elements being hosted in Paphos.
Terzi said that the vision is to dedicate the festival to emerging international directors and complimented the high standards.
 
“The idea is to establish Paphos as the home of the festival, it’s the ideal location as it’s close to the airport which is important for all of the guests. The festival will remain in the town for years to come.”
 
Acclaimed jury members include, producers Vivek Singhania from India and George F Roberson from the USA, award winning film director Wang Jingguang from China, as well as director of photography Bill Butler (Jaws, Rocky II, III, IV, Grease and the Godfather to name a few).
 
A number of parallel festival events also took place. A full run down of the winners can be found at the festival’s website.

www. cyiff.cineartfestival.eu

 
 
Paphos Cat Park closed to new arrivals
By Bejay Browne
 
A Paphos based cat sanctuary has announced that it is full and has been forced to close its gates to new cats and kittens.
 
Manager of Tala Monastery cat park, volunteer Dawn Foote, said that the sanctuary is now at bursting point, and volunteers must ensure that the comfort, health, wellbeing and safety of the 700 cats and kittens in their care, is a priority.
 
“Without exception, if we are asked to take cats or kittens everyone will be given the same answer. We are full and regretfully we cannot help,” she said. “We must also stress that people must not dump or abandon their unwanted cats and kittens in our car park, as has been the case until now.”
 
The burgeoning population has meant that rehoming has become an urgent priority.
 
According to the volunteer, a lack of available kittens in the UK has led to a demand for Cyprus cats, which is good news for the sanctuary, but as transport costs are prohibitive, this makes the process almost impossible for many would-be supporters.
 
“Flights to the UK are astronomical, with cats often costing more for a one-way flight than a human. We recently sent two cats and Thomson charged us 520 pounds sterling for a one-way flight,” she said.
 
“This is what stops people in the UK from adopting and it’s frustrating as the demand is there. If we could partner up with a sanctuary in the UK or garner the support of an airline that would be great. If there was available space on a flight it could be allocated to us.”
 
However, the cat park is still sending cats and kittens to other countries and also manages to rehome some in Cyprus. Foote said their aim was to ensure the cats went to good homes where they would live out their lives happily.
 
The cat park was created almost five years ago and this is the first time volunteers have had to implement a closed-door policy. Dawn stressed that they are not a ‘kill’ organisation and have successfully rehomed hundreds of cats and kittens over the last five years.
 
The sanctuary is now appealing to UK airlines and animal welfare charities, as a matter of urgency, to join forces to help find homes for some of the island’s cat population.
There is an ongoing spaying and neutering programmme at the park which has expanded and improved under the guidance and dedication of Foote, her husband Mark and a team of 15 volunteers. The sanctuary is now a popular attraction for both local and overseas visitors and is supported by an informative and up-to-date Facebook page.
Upgrades and improvements to the park are ongoing and they have just been granted permission by the electricity authority to install power at the site. A call for help has seen architects and electricians offering their services in support of the welfare of the cats.
 
Tala monastery Cat Park needs donations of food, bedding and cat litter. For further information: info@talamonasterycats.com. Website: www.talamonasterycats.com. Tala Monastery Cats on Facebook.
 
 
Paphos chocolatier wins silver at prestigious International chocolate awards
By Bejay Browne
 
 A Paphos chocolatier is celebrating her recent win, a silver, at the International chocolate awards presented in Florence in September.
 
This means that ‘Joulietta Chocolatier and Patissiers’ Fig and Ouzo hand crafted chocolate will now automatically go through to the World Chocolate Awards, due to take place in London in October.
 
The shop, a small business, was set up almost three years ago in the heart of Paphos.
 
Joulietta James, said that she was thrilled with her award, and along with her father ex Manchester restaurateur, Demetrios, and husband David, attended the award ceremony in Florence in Italy.
 
“It was an amazing experience and I met lots of other chocolatiers from all over the region and other countries which was really nice, and other guests such as food critics. I felt very honoured to be among all these people; I couldn’t really believe I was there.”
 
The International Chocolate Awards is an independent competition recognising excellence in fine chocolate making and in the products made with fine chocolate.
 
Joulietta won the silver prize for her artisan ‘Fig and Ouzo’ chocolate, made using local Cypriot produce. She hand crafts her chocolates, cakes and pastries at her Paphos shop, and is helped out by her father, who often collects fresh fruit, herbs and other local products to be used in the process.
 
The International Chocolate Awards covers various regions and Joulietta’s chocolate was entered under the Italian/ Mediterranean competition, which was open to entries from : Croatia, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Israel, Italy, Malta, Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and all Middle East and North African companies.
Winners pass through to the World Final in London in October 2016.
 
Joulietta has a dedicated Facebook page and also started a YouTube channel, where regular videos of her making her creations at her Paphos shop are uploaded.
 
 
Young Paphos dancer aims to win national TV competition
By Bejay Browne
 
A Paphos teenager is determined to take the crown at this year’s popular Mega TV show- ‘DanSing Junior.’
 
Talented thirteen year old British resident, Georgina Moakler, has lived in Peyia in Paphos with her family for the last ten years and dreams of winning this year’s high profile competition.
 
Her mother, Lisa Moakler, told the Paphos Post, that her daughter is the only British dancer to ever compete in the show, which is filmed in front of a live audience, and that she is thoroughly enjoying it.  The proud mum said that as soon as the cameras are on, all of her daughter’s nerves disappear.
 
“After her first TV performance for the show, I asked her if she was nervous and she was so excited and said,’ No, this is what I was meant to do.”
 
Aged just 2, Georgina started dancing in the UK, and now attends the Young Stars Theatre and Performing Arts School in Kissonerga in Paphos, which is run by Principal Anna Michaelides.
 
Michaelides’ son George, who also attends the school, will represent Cyprus at the upcoming Junior Eurovision to be held in Malta on November 20.
 
The singing and dancing TV show is broadcast every Saturday and Sunday night and sees talented young singers and dancers compete for the two top spots.
 
“The judges will crown the best dancer and the best singer, there are two awards. My daughter’s dance teacher Anna Michaelides nominated her and she went to audition in Nicosia with hundreds of other children. They picked eleven dancers to take part, and Georgina was one of the lucky ones” said the proud mum.
 
Eleven children were chosen in the dance category and eleven in the singing. They will each have to perform different songs or dances each week, depending on their field, and the judges deliver weekly individual scores. None of the children are eliminated during the series and during the final weekend, the public are invited to vote for their favourites, she said.
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Each performer faces a panel of three Mega TV judges who give the dancers and singers scores and feedback at the end of each routine.
 
“She is doing well with the judges but we will need the public to vote for her on December 18, as this is the only time they can vote,” stressed her mum.

Facebook Page:  Georgina Moakler DanSing Junior 2016.