Cyprus First-time Tourist

The first ever Papal visit to Cyprus takes place from 4-6 June bringing hopefully some high profile positive publicity to the island, whose tourism arrivals fell by nearly 11% in 2009. 2010 had started brightly with a 5.6% increase in tourist arrivals in the first quarter but the ‘ash cloud’ caused a sharp reverse in April when arrivals fell by a disastrous 23% with the UK market seeing almost a 26% decline. Only the much smaller but growing Russian market saw a significant April increase.

Pope Benedict XVI’s visit is not without controversy as only 2% of the Republic’s population is Roman Catholic – most are Greek Orthodox. The invitation to visit came from Archbishop Chrysostomos11 – leader of Cyprus’s 800,000 Orthodox Christians although some other Orthodox leaders have condemned the visit.

This is a critical time for the island as once again talks between the North and South have reopened as of 26^th May under UN auspices at the Good Offices in the UN Protected Area (ex Nicosia Airport). UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon welcomed the resumption of talks between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders and urged them to ‘be guided by the spirit of give-and-take in their negotiations’. http://www.uncyprustalks.org/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=2466

The Pope will celebrate Mass at Holy Cross Church www.lpj.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=467:a-la-rencontre-des-paroisses-de-chypre-leglise-de-la-sainte-croix-a-nicosie&catid=68:nouvelles&Itemid=85&lang=en at Paphos Gate in the UN Buffer Zone on 5^th June and will stay at the adjacent Franciscan convent which is also the Apostolic Nunciature – it is surrounded by the Turkish side of the Buffer Zone or ‘Green Line’ on three sides.

Is there a link from Ireland in all this? Ironically yes. The Nicosia Green Line is in UN Sector 2 in Cyprus which is currently the responsibility of a Territorial Army Signal Regiment from Belfast which is working alongside the Garda Siochana! They are responsible for Papal security while in the UN zone.

TTC has a long standing connection with Cyprus having worked on the Annan Peace Plan Tourism Impact, the National Tourism Strategy Review, the Free Famagusta (Ayia Napa / Protaras) Regional Tourism Strategy and issues related to air access to the island.

Ian Henderson has just returned from visiting the Buffer Zone.