The project is on track to be implemented, the Deputy Minister of Tourism announced after the end of the Ministerial
Commercial and tourism development is being promoted at the marina, which will have a jetty for luxury cruise ships up to 220 meters.
The creation of the Paphos Marina is proceeding with the decision of the Council of Ministers. This is an issue that has been pending for decades, while upon assuming his duties, the Deputy Minister of Tourism had re-launched an effort to promote the project, with the preparation of a study for its construction.
According to today's statements of S. Perdio, what is being promoted after a study by experts, is the combined development, with residential and commercial areas. The project will be a commercial and tourist development which will have a jetty for luxury cruise ships up to 220 meters (smaller cruise ships), while the plan is also to operate a hotel. “This is very important, because it is also in line with the goals of the Deputy Minister to attract tourism of a higher income level to Cyprus”, pointed out the Deputy Minister. He stated, that after the consultation with the authorities of Paphos, the Urban Planning Council, preliminarily decided to take a positive position, while the necessary environmental studies and masterplans for the project will be done by the investor.
He noted that the final proposal on what the marina will include rests with the investor, with the final indications of who the project's investor will be expected within 2024. “That which matters to us as a state and especially to the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, is that in the scoring criteria, greater weight will definitely be given to combined development, which will generate more income for the local economy, but also for various villages in the Pafos region and the Polis Chrysochous district”, he added.
The reaction from the Mariners Association
The statement of S. Perdio provoked the reaction of the newly established Mariners' Association, which in its announcement expressed surprise at the timing of the attempt to resolve an issue that has been pending for years. He invited the Deputy Minister to inform the Association, even the host, about the proposal to the Y.S. in order to foresee provisions that solve the essential problems of the development and operation of Marinas. It also states that both the Under-Minister of Tourism and the Under-Minister of Shipping have never addressed the essential operational problems of the existing Marinas despite repeated written appeals.
The announcement
< p>We are referring to the issue of the creation of a Marina in Paphos, a proposal that has been pending for many years and we were surprised to learn from the media that the Deputy Ministry of Tourism will submit a proposal to the Council of Ministers to approve the creation of the Paphos Marina, on February 8, 2023, that is, in the middle of the election process to elect a new government. As the Association of Marinas we stand with all our strength in favor of the creation of the Paphos Marina, because only with many options along the coastline of Free Cyprus will attract pleasure boats from abroad, making Cyprus an attractive Nautical destination.
The strange but obvious thing in the case is the fact that a few days before the change of government they “run” to solve an issue that has been pending for years, while the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the Deputy Ministry of Shipping who are responsible for the development and operation of Marinas in Cyprus have never dealt with the substantial operational problems of the existing Marinas despite our continuous written appeals. We are particularly saddened by the fact that a few weeks ago in a letter, they officially responded to our Association regarding the timing requests and problems, signed by two Deputy Ministers stating specifically that:
“Your requests require a thorough and holistic approach and since the current government's term expires in a few months, we invite you to resubmit them to the new government.” This completely unfortunate and unethical official response by two Deputy Ministers (with the new favorite expression “holistic approach…) calls into question the objectivity and credibility of the two Deputy Ministers and proves that unfortunately the state until the end of the term of the Government operates according to they try with obvious goals that do not ensure the public interest.
As the Association of Mariners, we call on the Deputy Minister to inform the Association, even the leader, about the proposal to the Y.S. in order to foresee provisions that solve the essential problems of the development and operation of Marinas.
