Europe: Cyprus

This wonderful destination is after Sardinia and Sicily, the 3rd largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is 70+ km from Turkey, and also borders Lebanon and Syria, Egypt and Israel plus Greece.

Cyprus Climate is a temperate Mediterranean with mild and rainy winters while summers are dry, dusty and warm.

The ‘Blue Flag’ Awarded beaches of Cyprus
The award of a European Blue Flag beach is based on compliance with 27 criteria covering the aspects of water quality, environmental education and information, environmental management and safety and services. In 2004, "Blue Flags" were awarded to more than 2,900 beaches and marinas in 24 countries in Europe and South Africa. “Blue Flags” were awarded to 39 organised beaches in 12 municipalities and communities in Cyprus:

Paralimni (3): Pernera, Vrysi, Protaras
Ayia Napa (14): Konnos Bay, Kermia, Landa, Nissi, Nissi Bay, Makronisos, Ayia Thekla, Vathia Gonia, Glyko Nero, Katsarka, Loukkos tou Manti, Ammos tou Kambouri, Pantahou, Pernera
Voroklini (1): Yiannades Beach
Larnaka (2): Finikoudes, Mackenzie
Pentakomo (1): CTO Kalymnos Beach
Pyrgos (1): Panayies/Aoratoi
Ayios Tychonas (7): Santa Barbara, Loures, Vouppa, Armonia, Kastella, Aphrodite and Onisilos
Pissouri (1): Pissouri Beach
Geroskipou (1): CTO Municipal Beach
Pafos (5): Pachyammos, Vrysoudia A & B, Alykes and Municipal Beach
Pegeia (1): Laourou Beach
Polis Chrysochous (2): Municipal Beach, CTO Dasoudi Beach

Cyprus Languages are officially Turkish (mostly in the North) and Greek (mostly in the South) – yet, English is well understood.

Cyprus Cuisine is famous for the use of tomatoes and cucumber, olive oil, the inclusion of taro and asparagus, seafood such as red wine and octopus and calamari, the sheep and goat milk cheese, halloumi which is served as a sliced starter and grilled with cracked wheat.

Cyprus Art well worth viewing is by major artists such as Mihail Kkasialos, Nicos Nicolaides, Hüseyin Çakmak and the Kalopedis family, George Skoteinos, Stass Paraskos, Adamantios Diamantis and Konstantia Sofokleous, Helene Black and Arestís Stasí, Telemachos Kanthos, Theodoulos Gregoriou and Rhea Bailey.

Tourism is one of the most important sectors of the Cyprus economy. Cyprus has evolved into a well-developed destination, which operates in a highly competitive environment and deals with the impacts of globalization and tourism market maturity. The EU accession has created a wide range of opportunities and challenges for Cyprus as a tourism destination which have to be timely and effectively addressed.

Hence, a long-term strategy until 2010 has been drafted and tourism policies, measures and incentive schemes are being adopted in order to qualitatively upgrade the tourism product and secure the sustainable development of tourism in Cyprus.

Cyprus Major Cities are:
Nicosia
Limassol
Larnaca
Paphos Famagusta
Kyrenia

The Travel-Informed Team

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