A Cyprus Village Routes initiative designed to raise the sustainability of tourism on the island has been developed by the Travel Foundation and The Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative.
Cosmos, First Choice, MyTravel, Sunvil, Thomas Cook, and Thomson are supporting the measure along with village communities, village producers and craftspeople and environmental organisations in Cyprus.
The idea is to benefit traditional hill villages previously marginalized from the economic benefits of tourism in Cyprus. The routes will provide holidaymakers with a natural and cultural experience not normally on offer to ordinary tourists.
The aim is to develop six routes, supported by a map and booklet in English, that will be placed in rental cars, hotels and tour operator companies backing the initiative. Profit made by CSTI on the sale of village route material to their partners will be reinvested in further initiatives including additional village routes.
A route around the central and western Lemesos District, departing from Limassol or Paphos. Highlights include the Pastelli Museum in Anogyra, Oleastro Olive Park and family-run and organic wineries. The trip can be taken as a full day itinerary or visitors can use the information to do part day trips to specific places included.
Itineraries can be picked up at hotels, car hire companies or are supplied by operators and include suggestions of places to visit, taverna recommendations, festivals in the villages and the history of buildings seen en route.
The idea is driven by increased demand for more independent travel in Cyprus using rental cars. The Cyprus tourism market is characterized by a percentage of repeat and long stay visitors especially during the ‘shoulder’ seasons. These visitors stay both in hotels and villas and want to be able to explore the island, but with some defined route map, according to the Travel Foundation.
Report by Phil Davies
