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The government is trying to make good on an old promise to create an undersecretary position for tourism, essentially scrapping or severely limiting the aged structure of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO).
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The bill would transfer most tourism responsibilities from a large bureaucracy to a leaner structure to boost flexibility and competitiveness
The ruling party Disy expects a bill to pass next month that would transfer most tourism responsibilities from a large bureaucracy to a leaner structure to boost flexibility and competitiveness.
Over the years, despite efforts made towards making improvements in the tourism industry, it has proven difficult to implement either short or long term plans, such as adopting a comprehensive approach for all-year-round tourism or adapting to new demands and opportunities in the market.
Opposition party Akel said it did not want to see CTO scrapped completely but has campaigned for some of the responsibilities and internal structure to remain the same. MPs have said they would vote for the bill if a new undersecretary meant that CTO would keep its autonomy under the new plan.
Disy head Averof Neophytou said he was confident that the new Undersecretary for Tourism would be created wither with ot without CTO.
The vote is scheduled for June 15. If passed, it would go into effect November 1.
