Poor connectivity and difficult access to Troodos were highlighted as the most significant obstacles to the further tourism development of the region by Nikos Matthaiou, President of the Troodos Tourism Development Company (ETAP Troodos), speaking to “Entrepreneurial Limassol.” As he explained, despite the significant investments made in recent years in hotel units and the development of alternative forms of tourism, access to Troodos remains difficult and costly for foreign visitors.
“The trip from the airports to Troodos can be more expensive than the airfare itself,” he noted, explaining that there are no direct bus connections from the airports of Larnaca and Paphos to Troodos. Mr. Matthaiou revealed that discussions had taken place with the Ministry of Transport and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, while proposals were submitted for subsidized transportation of visitors to Troodos through rural taxis. However, no response has been received so far.
According to ETAP’s Troodos proposal, tourists booking at least three nights in hotels in the area could be transported from the airports using subsidized rural community taxis, while also supporting the local economy. The ETAP Troodos president also referred to a pilot collaboration with a car-sharing company operating on an hourly basis, with a station in Platres, allowing visitors to travel from the airports or cities to Troodos at a lower cost. He admitted, however, that driving on the left-hand side of the road discourages many European tourists.
ETAP Troodos is also trying to promote regional bus routes for visits to attractions, wineries, churches, and workshops producing local products. However, as he explained, the effort faced difficulties because Troodos falls within two districts, and disagreements exist between the passenger transport companies of Limassol and Nicosia due to the division of routes by district. Mr. Matthaiou stressed that Troodos offers far more holiday options than the typical “sun and sea” model of coastal destinations, featuring nature trails, cycling routes, wineries, churches, monasteries, and workshops producing traditional products such as cured meats and dairy products.
He also referred to the specialized festivals organized in the area, such as the Rose Festival in Agros, the Honey Festival, the Lavender Festival, and the Chocolate Festival, which is continuing for a second year following last year’s major success. Despite promotional efforts, recorded inbound tourism to Troodos remains particularly low, close to 2%, according to the ETAP Troodos president. As he explained, domestic tourism alone is not enough to financially support hotels and agritourism accommodations, as it is largely limited to weekends.
Mr. Matthaiou also noted that several investments made in recent years, mainly in hotels in Platres, have not yet delivered the expected results due to low occupancy rates during weekdays. He also referred to the historic New Helvetia Hotel, which, as he said, is the first and only hotel in Cyprus to be included among the historic hotels of Europe. The hotel, owned by the Matthaiou family, has been operating since 1909 and has been officially designated by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism as a historic hotel of Cyprus.
Finally, the president of the Troodos ETAP highlighted the serious staffing challenges faced by businesses in the area, noting that Cypriot workers avoid working in Troodos due to the high cost of accommodation and transportation, forcing businesses to rely mainly on foreign staff.
