Undoubtedly, a significant part of Cyprus’ economy benefits from the tourism sector. The income of many residents, mainly in coastal areas in Cyprus, is derived from the tourism sector. Therefore, the sustainability of tourism in Cyprus is a key element of the economy and ensuring it should remain a priority for the island. However, significant challenges bring risks to the sustainability of this sector and therefore, various emerging perspectives and measures need to be taken into consideration.
A major challenge for this sector is the seasonality of tourism. As is well known, tourism in Cyprus is seasonal, with the highest demand occurring during the summer months. This causes periods when tourism is at very low levels and therefore, reduces the employment rates of locals and the profits to the economy. Considering this fact and with the aim of achieving sustainability, an alternative type of tourism is presented as an important prospect in Cyprus for exploitation and promotion.
In particular, educational tourism is a widely growing alternative type of tourism in Europe and worldwide. Many visitors seek to go to another country not only for leisure purposes, but also to learn about and/or get involved in a thematic area in which that country has a history. For example, many visitors with an interest in marine tourism choose destinations with “attractions” or itineraries that offer these perspectives, such as maritime museums. At the same time, several visitors with religious interests choose destinations with religious attractions. Therefore, the exploitation and further development of educational thematic itineraries in Cyprus should be an important pillar of tourism as it will be able to cope with seasonality. Promoting the educational destinations especially during non-peak periods in Cyprus will be an important element to ensure that the inflow of visitors to Cyprus will be at a satisfactory level throughout the year.
At the same time, educational tourism comes to address and support remote areas. In particular, several points of interest of special thematic educational tourism are located in remote areas. For example, the production of local products such as wine and coumadaria or Lefkari embroidery is based in mountainous areas. Therefore, the development of infrastructure in these areas for further promotion of the tourism product, combined with a promotional campaign to inform about the available thematic educational tourism in Cyprus and the destinations presented, can be an aid to the development of these areas.
The recording of the special thematic routes of educational tourism is supported by the action entitled “EduTourism – Promotion of educational tourism for the promotion of natural and cultural heritage” which is being implemented in the framework of the cross-border programme Interreg V-A Greece – Cyprus 2014-2020. Specifically, the Tourism Development and Promotion Company of the Nicosia Region (ETAP Nicosia), as a partner in this action, has recorded three thematic routes in Cyprus which concern Gastronomy – Wine Gastronomy, Tradition – Environment – Religious Heritage and Culture. For each of the aforementioned thematic itineraries, an inventory has been made of the important destinations that will undoubtedly form an important part for further development of educational tourism in Cyprus.
For more information you can visit the website of the action and the website of the Interreg V-A Greece-Cyprus 2014-2020 Programme.