President Nikos Christodoulides is meeting with tourism stakeholders to discuss the regional conflict's impact on the sector, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis has announced.
The meeting is sheduled to take place at 4pm on Wednesday, 11 March, with all the bodies that represent and have responsibility for tourism, the Cyprus Hotel Association (Pasyxe), the Association Cyprus Tourist Enterprises (ACTE), the Association of Cyprus Travel & Tourism Agents (ACTTA), the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry (CCCI), Cyprus Employers & Industrialists Federation (OEB) and airport operaroirs Hermes Airports, in order to carry out an initial assessment of the situation to date, and also to determine the next steps.
Letymbiotis, meanwhile, also said that the issue of foot-and-mouth disease must be addressed responsibly and away from populism, effectively supporting those who have been affected.
In statements to journalists at the Presidential Palace, after the Council of Ministers meeting, the Spokesperson on 11 March said that "within the framework of the President of the Republic's contacts with the European Commission, regarding the management of the foot-and-mouth disease situation, it has been arranged for the competent Commissioner for Animal Health and Welfare to come to our country, where on Friday (13 March) arrangements will be made for a meeting with all the affected bodies. On the same day, the new meeting of the President of the Republic with the affected bodies will also take place, exactly as was decided during the last meeting on Sunday.
In response to a question, the Spokesperson said that the President of the Republic has already contacted the President of the European Commission and there is constant communication with her Office, but also with the Commission, and therefore, the visit to Cyprus of the competent EU Commissioner results from these actions.
He added that "all actions are being taken to address a situation which, I emphasise, requires responsibility, sobriety, away from populism, if indeed what we want is to truly, substantially and practically support the primary sector and those who have been affected. We need to take all those measures at this time, always in close coordination with our European partners, with the Commission, on the basis of the regulations, the protocols that must be implemented."
Finally, he stated that "what is most important is supporting the primary sector, protecting the export sufficiency of our country, but always through a responsible and realistic attitude."
(Source: InBusinessNews)
