Cyprus and Greece join to tackle tourism

The Hellenic Association of Travel & Tourist Agencies (HATTA) and the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) have agreed to submit a joint proposal to the governments of both countries for Cyprus and Greece to be considered a single area for tourism purposes.

The decision was taken during a teleconference on Friday where ACTA and HATTA confirmed their readiness to create a new "tourist dogma." The proposal will include sharing tourists, when the conditions allow and provided both countries have successfully tackled the COVID-19 pandemic.

A prerequisite for the successful outcome of the dogma will be the opening of Cypriot airports.

Welcoming the decision, the Cyprus-Greece business association said the exchange of tourists is a very positive step in efforts to handle the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic in the tourism industry.

The Cyprus-Greece business association notes that both countries can cover part of their losses from tourism, if they provide generous incentives to their citizens to visit each country over the summer.

The association further repeated its suggestion for joint tourism packages noting that these can be offered in countries with low numbers of coronavirus cases, with health measures that will be valid for tourists.

It also said that it will continue to work closely with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the Greek National Tourism Organisation in Cyprus to implement these initiatives for the benefit of both countries.

It also said that it will work to promote a closer tourism cooperation and a ferry connection between Greece and Cyprus, a line that stopped operating in 2000.