At the outset, the Ambassador said, “With the world experiencing a pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the energy crisis, inflation, and other problems, the challenge is to think about the direction of the tourism industry,” and he asked, “How can we make the Japanese people aware of Cyprus, which is still unfamiliar to them in Japan, and choose it as a destination for their visit? How can we make Cyprus, which is not yet well known in Japan, known to the Japanese people and chosen as a tourist destination? We would like to convey the opinions exchanged this time to our home country and the Ministry of Tourism, and move forward to the next step,” he said.
The event was held at the Hotel Gajoen Tokyo, where Harris Moritis, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Cyprus, spent his first six months in Japan, and which he considers as “my second home”.
What kind of country is Cyprus?
The Republic of Cyprus is an island country located in the east of the Mediterranean Sea. With an area of 9251 m2, it is about half the size of Shikoku in Japan. Surrounded by the three continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe, it is the setting of ancient Greek mythology and has a history of over 11,000 years.
The population is about 900,000, and the main languages are Greek and Turkish, with English being the other widely spoken language.
Currently, there are no restrictions on entry into Cyprus due to the prevention of new coronas, and visitors can enter Cyprus with only a passport, without the need for a visa, for short-term stays of up to three months, such as for tourism or business.
Although it is generally thought of as a Mediterranean resort, according to Ms. Akiko Shimura of the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, “There is also the mountainous region of Troodos, which is 2,000 meters above sea level and is rich in nature and food nurtured by its underground water. There are nature trails, orchids in spring and summer, and wild cyclamen in the shade of trees in autumn and winter. Although Cyprus is hot all year round, with a maximum temperature of 25-32°C, the mountainous areas are cool in summer and the greenery is beautiful, making it a “Mediterranean summer resort.
There are two airports in Cyprus, one on the east and the other on the west. The gateway to Cyprus is either Larnaca International Airport in the eastern town or Paphos International Airport in the western town. There are no direct flights from Japan to Cyprus, and flights are via Dubai (Emirates Airlines) or Doha (Qatar Airways). It is also possible to access Paphos by combining a round trip to Paris or Rome.
The capital is Nicosia, an inland city with a population of about 200,000. It is also called “Lefkosia” in Greek, the country’s official language. A large fortress was built there in the 16th century during the reign of the Venetian Republic, and many old buildings still remain in the old town inside the fortress. The “Via Ledra,” lined with restaurants and stores that make use of these buildings, is crowded with locals and tourists.
The Byzantine-style St. John’s Church and the adjacent museums and art galleries are also scattered throughout the area.
To the south is Limassol, the second largest city in Cyprus. In Greek, it is called Lemesos. It is a port city with a trade port and has the second largest population after Nicosia, the capital. The seafront is lined with hotels with ocean views and seafood restaurants serving fresh seafood.
Limassol also has many ruins of high historical value, including the “Kourion,” an ancient city site, which is still in use as an open-air concert theater that can be easily visited, while being partially restored. The “Church of St. Antonios” and the “Koprulu Mosque,” both of which retain a strong religious background and history of various rulings, are also highlights of the city.
Among them, Limassol is famous for its Cypriot wine. During the Crusader rule from the 12th to the 15th century, a sweet red wine called Komandaria was favored by the Knights, and its production flourished and spread throughout Europe. As the world’s oldest protected denomination of origin wine, 14 villages in Cyprus still vinify Komandaria with only grapes grown there.
Cyprus is also the birthplace of “Aphrodite,” the Greek goddess of love and beauty, and Paphos, a city in the western part of the island and home of the ambassador, is its birthplace.
Paphos has many ruins from the Greek period, including the famous mosaic “House of Aeon,” and the entire city is registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
Other known World Heritage sites in Cyprus include “Churches of Troodos” (nine churches scattered in a mountainous area) and “Kilokitia” (a Neolithic settlement located on the outskirts of Larmeka).
© Source travel watch
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.