Cyprus Wins Destination Category at Routes World 2024 Awards
The Deputy Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Cyprus celebrated the island’s recent accolade as the winner of the Destination Category at the esteemed Routes World 2024 Awards held in Bahrain. This recognition highlights Cyprus’s commitment to enhancing air connectivity, a crucial aspect of its economy and tourism sector.
As a picturesque island in the Mediterranean Sea, Cyprus relies heavily on inbound tourism, and improving air links is essential for attracting both leisure and business travelers. Despite facing challenges such as the pandemic and geopolitical conflicts impacting key markets, Cyprus has shown remarkable resilience, emerging as a thriving tourism destination.
Cyprus is renowned for its stunning beaches, year-round sunshine, rich history, and vibrant culture. The team at Visit Cyprus actively promotes the country as a year-round destination through targeted advertising campaigns in key markets and initiatives to encourage airlines to extend seasonal flights.
These efforts have paid off, resulting in a significant increase in seat capacity from January to August 2024. The Nordic countries saw a remarkable 58% rise, Poland experienced a 20% growth, and the Netherlands reported a 22% increase in flight availability. Additionally, tourist arrivals surged by over 20% in 2023, reaching 3.85 million compared to 3.2 million in the previous year. Data for 2024 suggests further growth, with the tourism authority predicting a recovery beyond pre-pandemic levels.
Hermes Airports, operating Larnaka International Airport and Pafos International Airport, also recorded a milestone, achieving 11.6 million passengers—a 3% increase from 2019 figures. The Deputy Ministry of Tourism has implemented tailored marketing campaigns, supported local communities, and focused on reducing seasonal spikes by collaborating with tour operators, airlines, and key stakeholders.
Sophia Charalambous, Market Development Officer at the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, expressed pride in the award, stating, “I’m so proud and excited for this recognition. It validates our hard work and the effectiveness of our marketing strategy.” She emphasized the importance of participating in Routes World, as it provides opportunities to meet partners, exchange insights, and negotiate improvements for Cyprus’s tourism product.
This award not only acknowledges Cyprus’s strategic efforts to boost tourism but also reinforces its position as a desirable destination in the competitive travel market.
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