The tourist flow to villages located on the Akamas Peninsula has reached a scale unprecedented in the history of the region.

According to representatives of the region, for the first time in the history of this part of Cyprus, travelers began to visit settlements not only on the way to the famous beaches and natural attractions, but also as independent tourist destinations.

Local authorities attribute this success to the initiative of the President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulidis, aimed at combining projects for the development and improvement of Akamas communities into a single tourist route.

The program was presented at the beginning of 2024 and began to be implemented last summer. Already in 2026, its results became noticeable both for residents of the region and for the tourism business.

If earlier most vacationers were limited to visiting the Blue Lagoon, natural trails and picturesque beaches of the peninsula, now more and more guests remain in the villages, get acquainted with local culture, museums and public spaces. This approach allows you to distribute the tourist flow throughout the region and create additional sources of income for local residents.

The deputy mayor of the Akamas municipality in the Iniya district, Yagkos Tsivikos, noted that the presidential program has already begun to fulfill its main task – to attract tourists directly to the settlements of the peninsula. According to him, the first organized excursion groups are already visiting the villages of the region. Interest in Inia is especially noticeable, where several new objects have recently been discovered at once.

Among them are the Aphrodite theme trail, the turtle museum and the renovated community center of the village. These projects have become part of a larger development program aimed at increasing the attractiveness of rural areas of western Cyprus.

During the opening of new facilities, President Nikos Christodoulidis emphasized that the Akamas support program is not a privilege for individual settlements. He recalled that for many years, residents of the peninsula faced serious restrictions on the use and development of their real estate due to the special conservation status of the territory.

According to the head of state, the importance of Akamas goes far beyond one region, since this unique natural complex is a national treasure of all Cyprus. That is why the state seeks to find a balance between preserving nature and creating new economic opportunities for local residents.

Representatives of local authorities are confident that new projects create real prospects for the development of business, the hotel sector and the service sector. Residents of the peninsula emphasize that it is they who are most interested in preserving the environment, since the unique nature of Akamas remains the main advantage of the region and the basis of its tourist attractiveness.

Today, Akamas is increasingly seen as one of the key areas of ecological and rural tourism in Cyprus. In addition to the famous natural landscapes, travelers are beginning to be attracted by traditional villages, cultural sites, hiking trails and the opportunity to get acquainted with the authentic life of the Cypriot hinterland.

Experts note that the further development of such projects can significantly strengthen the position of Akamas on the tourist map of the island and make the region one of the most popular holiday destinations outside the traditional sea resorts of Cyprus.

Источник: en.philenews.com