Government verbal and communication statements on tourism

Statement by AKEL Spokesman Stefanos Stefanou on Tourism

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 27^th July 2020, Nicosia

Unfortunately, the government’s estimates and expectations with regards tourism and arrivals are not being verified. Tens of thousands of workers, self-employed people and small and medium-sized businesses – some directly and others indirectly – are subject to severe consequences as a result of the pandemic’s impact on tourism.

For months, AKEL has been demanding that the emphasis must be put on promoting domestic and social tourism, submitting a comprehensive proposal, which    AKEL had discussed with the Deputy Minister of Tourism himself. We called on the government to build on the experience of the social tourism programs that had been implemented in the past, to prepare specific programs, provide incentives and generally to encourage Cypriots to take their holidays with the provision of affordable prices in Cyprus.

What substantive measures have been taken in this direction?

What programs have been elaborated and incentives have been given to support the tourism industry, protect jobs and the incomes of thousands of working people, and to give at the same time thousands of low-income families the opportunity to go on holiday in our country?

 The government, besides issuing verbal statements in this issue too, seems to have limited itself to theoretical declarations and is engaging in thecommunication management of the issue.