New York , NY , February 24, 2010 – The Cyprus Tourism Organization will be participating at the upcoming New York Times Travel Show that will take place during February 26, 27 & 28 at the Jacob Javitz Center . On Saturday February 27, at 2:00 pm the Pancyprian Association Dance Group will perform folkloric dances from Cyprus at the main stage, as part of our effort to promote our culture to the consumers visiting the show.
Cyprus , the third largest island in the Mediterranean has been a favorite of sophisticated travelers since ancient years. A large percentage of our 2.4 million visitors come back regularly for Cyprus’ richly diverse culture, monuments dating from Neolithic to Greek to romantic Venetian periods, an equally diverse and delicious cuisine, unspoiled villages and some of the Mediterranean’s best beaches.
In a drive to expand its tourism industry in the 21 st century and draw more American and European visitors, Cyprus is adding new attractions and programs, including new golf courses and marinas. Cyprus is also expanding its hotel inventory with new hotels and restoring traditional Cypriot homes for closer encounters with village life.
This past November we had the inauguration of the new Larnaka International Airport . The new terminal offers 16 jetways (boarding bridges), 67 check in counters, 8 point for self-service check-in, 48 departure gates and 2,450 parking spots. The new terminal can handle 7.5 milion passengers per year . The second phase of the airport, will be completed in 2013, provides for the expansion of the new terminal to handle 9 million passengers a year, and for a 500 m (1,600 ft) runway extension. The design of the new 98,000 m 2 (1,050,000 sq ft) terminal includes 16 boarding bridges and is intended to reflect the proportions of a medieval aqueduct located in the city.
Cyprus this year is celebrating the 50 th anniversary from its Independence . Major events will be taking place in Cyprus and abroad. In addition, Pope Benedict XVI will visit the island during June 4-6, 2010 for the first time. The pope had been invited by the President of Cyprus, Mr. Demetris Christofias; by Catholic leaders in Cyprus and by the Archbishop Chrysostomos II of Cyprus . His program includes a visit to the capital city and the town of Pafos where St. Paul preached. This is the Popes first visit to Cyprus . The visit of the Pope will attract a lot of religious visitors to the island.