Cyprus tourism minister enlists diaspora

Cyprus' Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios has concluded a first visit to Washington and New York with a view to gathering information and promoting Cyprus as a tourism destination with a "positive impression" he told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA). The deputy minister held meetings in Washington and New York with Cypriot expatriates and tour operators in order to promote the new image and identity of Cyprus tourism.

In statements to CNA he spoke of his meetings and the deputy ministry's goals to access the American market.

"Important meetings were held with ASTA [American Society of Travel Advisors], ATTA [Adventure Travel Trade Association] and USTOA [United States Tour Operators Association]," he said.

These three associations, he added, "are of great importance to us, because they have a significant number of members who are active in the tourism...