According to Theophylactou, Cyprus as a destination would appeal to all segments. It is a multicultural – there are many Muslim mosques, Catholic architecture, Byzantine fortresses, etc. The climate is appeasing. It is also an adventure tourism destination, with options ranging from mountain biking to hiking. Sports tourism is one of the important segments being promoted. “Sports people train in Cyprus before the Olympics. Conference tourism facilities are also there, not just in hotels but also in interesting surroundings like beaches and other locations, throughout the year,” added Theophylactou.
Cyprus government is engaging with Thomas Cook India to promote the destination in the India market. “We are interested in promoting new destinations in India and are looking at a multipronged approach. We have a long geo-political relationship between the two countries, from early history to Non-Aligned Movement. The country offers everything – some of the most amazing beaches you can ever find, mountains and snow, archeology, history, art, culture. It is one of those very well kept secrets , those who have discovered it – both business and leisure, keep going back,” said Abraham Alapatt, chief innovation officer and head – marketing and service quality, Thomas Cook India. He pointed out that the target is high-end travelers – it is a small island which looks at attracting the right kind of traveller who will come back. They do not want to overburden the infrastructure and compromise the quality of experience. The destination, asserted Alapatt, has everything the high-end traveller would want.
