Proposal calls for Cyprus to develop cat tourism identity

Nicosia, Cyprus. Volunteer cat rescuer Christina Georgalla has proposed that Cyprus place greater emphasis on its historical relationship with cats and market the island as a cat tourism destination. The tourism ministry said it had received the proposal and was reviewing the relevant criteria.

Cats across the island

Cats are a familiar presence across Cyprus, from bars and beaches to taverns and archaeological sites, with many of them strays. Some claim that the island’s feline population outnumbers its human population.

While other destinations have marketed themselves as cat destinations, Cyprus has offered limited cat-themed products, such as tote bags and mugs sold at kiosks and tourist shops.

Tourism proposal

Georgalla, drawing on her experience in cat rescue, drafted a tourism development proposal study calling for the island to focus more strongly on its connection with cats.

“Cyprus’ current positioning as a ‘sunny resort’ competes head-on with destinations that hold a far stronger cosmopolitan brand and consistently loses that comparison,” Georgalla said.

She said the proposal was not intended to disguise an existing issue, but to turn it into an asset through systematic and ethical care.

Managing the issue

Georgalla described a gap between ignoring the issue of stray cats and managing it while communicating the island’s story properly. She argued that Cyprus should treat its stray cats as part of its tourism identity.

As part of her study, Georgalla identified three destinations that have established themselves as cat destinations and provided an overview of their models and outcomes.