Famagusta, Cyprus. Famagusta district is stepping up efforts to diversify its visitor base and extend the tourism season beyond summer, with families and older travellers a central focus, local tourism officials said.
2026 action plan and overseas promotion
Giorgos Kafkalias, director of the Famagusta Regional Tourism Board (Etap), said the strategy aims at market diversification and extending the calendar, particularly into early spring, while implementation has already begun.
He said the Action Plan for 2026 has been approved by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and that delegations will travel abroad in the coming weeks, with participation planned in tourism exhibitions in Serbia and Germany in February and March.
Kafkalias said a delegation will travel to Belgrade for a tourism exhibition from February 19-22, where Cyprus will be the honored country. He added that the ITB exhibition in Berlin will follow from March 3-5, alongside participation in a roadshow in Poland.
Online campaign and partners
Kafkalias said promotion will also continue online, with planning under way for a new online campaign to promote the Famagusta district tourism product in foreign markets.
He said the campaign is a joint initiative involving the deputy ministry, the municipalities of Paralimni-Deryneia and Ayia Napa, Hermes Airports, the Bank of Cyprus and local hoteliers.
Branding, experiences and season extension
Kafkalias said a new destination identity has been completed and will be presented within the year, and that the strategy includes activities linking inland communities with the coastal resorts of Ayia Napa and Protaras.
He said the actions and experiences offered to visitors have been enriched, and reiterated that extending the tourist season remains the central objective, mainly by incorporating March.
Kafkalias said the district is gradually attracting a wider mix of nationalities, reducing reliance on one or two markets.
Target groups and digital tools
Kafkalias said the strategy also prioritises attracting more families and older people who can visit throughout the year and not only in summer, adding that progress is already visible.
He said digital tools are another pillar of the approach, with the district having introduced an AI visitor guide and expanding it further.
What changes would you like to see in Famagusta district’s tourism offering outside the summer months?
