InvestCyprus, the island’s organization responsible for attracting foreign direct investment, announced the creation of a specialized unit in a bid to facilitate the efforts to achieve Cyprus’ National Tourist Strategy for 2030, which aims at attracting 5 million tourists by 2030.
Speaking to a press conference both InvestCyprus Chairman Michalis Michael and Director General George Campanellas stressed that the organization will place the attraction of investors in the tourism sector at the spotlight of its action plan in a bid to attract the “hundreds of millions in investment needed” in tourist infrastructure.
Apart from 5 million in tourist inflow by 2030, the National Strategy aims at boosting overnight stays in the winter months and quadrupling overnight stays in rural areas by 2030.
“We now where we want to go and we have placed this strategy in our programme and we will place investment in tourism in the first place during all our roadshows abroad,” Michael said.
Noting that tourism is not only “Sun and Sea”, Michael noted that InvestCyprus will promote thematic tourism such as sport tourism, religious tourism, health tourism and tourism in rural areas, noting that there is infrastructure in rural areas which is left untapped.
“We are certain that there is sustainability (in such investments) we just need to find the right investor” he added.
On his part, Campanellas pointed out that infrastructure projects to achieve the targets amount to “hundreds of millions of euros” in investments.
“Our aim is to attract the investment necessary so that these targets will be achieved,” he said, noting that the focus will be placed on thematic tourism.
Morever, Campanellas pointed out that synergies could be achieved with investment funds registered in Cyprus which enquire InvestCyprus where to invest their assets under management
In a bid to achieve the tourism targets for 2030, InvestCyprus will operate as One-Stop Shop providing information to potential investors over infrastructure projects and available investment opportunities, will organise on-site visits while in collaboration with property owners will create a project bank with all available investment opportunities on the island.
Furthermore, InvestCyprus has created a website located at www.touristinvestcyprus.org.cy.
Source: CNA