Lakkotrypis said that the biggest challenge faced today is the Russian market, which has seen a great reduction in outbound tourism, but that efforts are underway to limit losses from Russia and to target other key markets such as the UK, Germany, Israel, Poland, the Czech Republic, France, Switzerland and the Arab countries.

Despite 2015’s encouraging start there are no groundsfor complacency, Lakkotrypis said.

He added that in cooperation with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) a new national plan has been speeded up which will lead to the rebranding of the island’s tourist image and to re-positioning of Cyprus in the overseas holiday markets.

Dinos Kakkouras, head of the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) said that travel agents are optimistic since according to data so far, the increasing tendency in outbound travels continues and present a 6% increase compared to the same period last year.

“Travel agents realising the needs of the public and the economic conditions of the past years, have already adjusted their programmes so that Cypriots are not deprived of their holidays,” he said.

At the opening of the exhibition, whose honoured country this year is India, men and women dressed in traditional Hindu dress welcomed guests, while the High Commissioner of India Ravi Bangar accompanied by Lakkotrypis, lit the traditional Indian flame.

Taxidi 2015, which is being co-organised by ACTA and Display Art, will remain open until Sunday.

Source: Cyprus Mail