2024-04-25 20:55:51
Targeted tourism promotion, as well as the promotion and advocacy of issues of common interest, was provided by the presence of the Region of Epirus and the Municipality of Ioannina, together with tourism operators, at the International Tourism Exhibition Travel Expo Cyprus 2024, in Nicosia.
The mission of the Region of Epirus focused on promoting, informing the public and hosting institutions and businessmen of Epirus, who were interested in promoting their particular elements.
The interest of Cypriots in the mountainous and coastal Epirus shows increasing trends, as there is already an air connection with Aktio, as stated by representatives of Cypriot authorities and agencies, who visited the Epirus stand.
The targeted and coordinated promotion of the Region of Epirus in recent years, as well as its sea and mountain beauties, alternative activities and religious tourism, elements that Cypriot travelers are looking for and which exist in Epirus in a superlative degree, as they said, were praised by the Deputy Minister of Tourism of Cyprus Kostas Koumis, the ambassador of Greece in Cyprus Ioannis Papameletiou and the director of the Hellenic Tourism Organization in Cyprus Petros Saganas.
With four objectives, the Municipality of Ioannito participated in the exhibition, at the Epirus Region stand. Specifically, it aimed at the attempt to reconnect Larnaca – Ioannina by air, at the further penetration – promotion of the new enriched tourist product of the destination “Ioannina”, at the strengthening of city diplomacy, in matters of tourism and culture with the twinned cities of Ayia Napa and Limassol, and at joint participation in European programs and projects with the municipalities of Limassol and Ayia Napa, as well as academic – educational and business organizations.
For this reason, there were scheduled meetings with top government officials of Cyprus, such as with Mr. Koumis, who in fact is a warm supporter of the destination of Ioannina and participated in the first flight that took place from Larnaca to Ioannina with the company TUS in 2017, with general managers of the Ministry of Tourism & Education of Cyprus, with the director of Development, Marketing and Communication of Larnaca airport Maria Kouroupis, with the head of the Cyprus EOT service P. Saganas, with tourism organizations and offices of Cyprus. Also, scheduled meetings were held with the mayors of Limassol Nikos Nicolaidis and Ayia Napa Christos Zanettou on issues of upgrading cooperation, networking and the exchange and adoption of good practices.
The results of the meetings are evaluated by the municipal authority with a particularly positive sign, because the interest of the Cypriot market for the destination “Ioannina” and the wider region of Epirus proved to be very high, as was evident from the large number of visitors to the Epirus stand. Additionally, according to the Municipality of Ioannita, in the targeted meetings that took place, there was a very positive response, interest and intention to launch important supporting tools and initiatives that will contribute to the further development of the interconnection of Cyprus with our region.
The mission was headed by the Deputy Regional Governor for Culture Ilias Gartzonikas and the Director of the Tourism Department Iulia Markoulas, while the Municipality of Ioannina was represented by the Deputy Mayor for Trade, Development, Entrepreneurship and Tourism Christos Tatsis, the Deputy Mayor for Culture, Cultural Institutions and Events Minas Paschopoulos, the Secretary General Konstantinos Babasikas , the mayor’s special adviser on City Diplomacy, Tourism & Business Development Stefanos Zervas and the employees of the Department of Tourism E. Basogiannis and Aim. Young.
The Ioannina Hotel Association was also hosted at the Epirus Region stand through G.G. Theodorou Vandolas, the Chamber of Thesprotia and tourism businesses of Epirus.
In fact, the Brotherhood of Epirus of Cyprus and Friends “Olympia”, invited by the Region of Epirus, with a large presence of expatriates, presented a musical traditional program in front of the Epirus stand, attracting the interest and applause of its visitors. The Region of Epirus warmly thanks the president Christos Pappas, the Board of Directors. and all members of the Brotherhood for their considerable support.