Sudipta Dev – Mumbai
Cyprus, an island that has a history going back to almost 10,000 years is not completely unknown in India but is yet to find a place in the popular tourism map for India outbound. The Cyprus High Commission in India is working on marketing Cyprus in India in a better way to attract Bollywood producers and also high-end tourists. “There is a strong focus on promoting the destination in the Bollywood community and a recce by directors and actors will happen soon. This will be a basis for future cooperation and Cyprus can be one of the best destinations for film-making. We are trying to persuade the film industry,” said Demetrios A Theophylactou, high commissioner, Cyprus High Commission. He mentioned that one of the factors why Cyprus is ideal for film shootings is that it takes very little time to go from one location to another – from the beach to the mountains. He also believes that the many offerings of the destination will attract the film community repeatedly.
According to Theophylactou, Cyprus as a destination would appeal to all segments. It is 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. “People train in sports 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.
The 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 multi-pronged 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 travellers – 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 on the quality of experience. The destination, asserted Alapatt, has everything the high-end traveller would want.