tourism

Hagia Sophia: 25 euro ticket for tourists from tomorrow Monday

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Hagia Sophia: 25 euro ticket for tourists from tomorrow Monday

Starting from tomorrow, January 15th, the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism will impose an entrance fee for foreign tourists visiting the Hagia Sophia. The Ministry has completed the separation of entrances for those visiting the monument as worshipers and those visiting for cultural or tourist purposes. The entrance fee for foreign tourists visiting the historic site for tourism purposes is 25 euros. Turkish citizens visiting for religious worship will continue to have free entry. The risk of collapse of the Hagia Sophia was previously highlighted by the President of the Board of the Association of Art History, Şerif Yaşar, who stated that if it is not restored, it will collapse with the first earthquake. Measures have been taken to protect the monument, including the installation of security cameras, fire detection systems, and emergency announcement systems. The issue of stability has been addressed, and restoration work is planned to strengthen the structure.

Registration of roads in the occupied areas on Google platforms – The actions of the so-called minister of public works

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Registration of roads in the occupied areas on Google platforms - The actions of the so-called minister of public works

The fact described in the text is that a protocol was signed between the "Minister of Public Works and Transport" and the director of Fact Innovation and Technologies Ltd to integrate the roads into the Google platforms. This step aims to make the pseudostate more visible on the international scene and increase its promotion, by scanning the main roads of the "country" with a special vehicle and camera, and publishing the data on Google platforms (StreetView). This will provide opportunities to promote the tourism and economic potential of the occupied territory to a wider audience and facilitate visitors and investors.

Some 62,000 Russian tourists to Cyprus despite sanctions

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Some 62,000 Russian tourists to Cyprus despite sanctions

Fact: Despite the closure of European and Cypriot airspace for Russian aircraft and companies under sanctions, many Russians continue to arrive on the island for tourism mainly through third countries. As of November, there were 61,796 tourist arrivals from Russia, surpassing the number of tourists from European countries with direct air connections.

Slowdown in growth on geopolitical tensions

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Slowdown in growth on geopolitical tensions

The growth prospects of the Cyprus economy are struggling due to ongoing regional geopolitical tensions, which is keeping the annual growth rate at a subdued pace. The year-over-year growth rate of the Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI) has continued to slow down in November. The slowdown reflects the burdened geopolitical and unstable economic environment, which negatively affects the growth prospects of the Cypriot economy. The CCLEI recorded a year-over-year increase of 1.8% in November. The positive growth rate is attributed to the growth of various domestic sectors, including real estate, tourism, retail trade, and electricity production. The drop in the CCLEI is restrained by the international price of oil, which fell significantly in November. The components of the CCLEI are selected from a pool of domestic and international leading indicators.

ReInHerit Smart Tourism Hackathon to take place in January

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ReInHerit Smart Tourism Hackathon to take place in January

The ReInHerit European project team is organizing the ReInHerit Smart Tourism Hackathon, which will take place on January 20 and 21 at the CYENS Centre of Excellence headquarters in Nicosia. The hackathon aims to bring together technology enthusiasts and individuals interested in heritage and museums to create innovative solutions for enhancing the visitor experience at museums and cultural heritage sites. Participants will have the opportunity to develop an app prototype, a business idea, or a game prototype that connects technology to museums and educates about their content. The event also offers networking opportunities, skill development, and the chance to win prizes totaling €4000. Interested parties can register on the competition website.

ReInHerit Smart Tourism Hackathon to take place in January

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ReInHerit Smart Tourism Hackathon to take place in January

The ReInHerit European project team is organizing the ReInHerit Smart Tourism Hackathon, which will take place on January 20 and 21 at the CYENS Centre of Excellence headquarters in Nicosia. The hackathon aims to encourage creativity, collaboration, and the celebration of different perspectives. It is part of the Horizon Europe program, which focuses on research, innovation, and achieving sustainable development goals. The objective of the hackathon is to develop app prototypes, business ideas, or game prototypes that connect technology to museums or cultural heritage sites and enhance the visitor experience. Online mentoring workshops will be provided, and participants will have the opportunity to network and win prizes totaling €4000. Interested parties can visit the competition page for more information and early registration is encouraged due to limited space.

Cypriots in record year-end escapades abroad

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Cypriots in record year-end escapades abroad

Cypriots are expected to surpass pre-Covid numbers with about 1.7 million packages abroad this year, according to the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA). Greece and the UK are the top destinations for Cypriots, followed by Austria, France, Italy, Hungary, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, and Germany. Cypriots typically travel for an average of 4 to 5 nights. Traveling during the holiday season is now more feasible and accessible for the majority of Cypriots due to increased connectivity and newly added destinations. There is also emerging interest in more distant destinations, particularly in the Far East. Preferences for destinations often depend on the availability of direct flights.