TUI Transport will hold an international conference in Cyprus on the mobilisation of employees in the transport sector and their  battle against the economic crisis.

Next week’s two-day conference aims to tackle issues related to  employment, salaries and employees’ rights.

It will be held on February 15 and 16 at the Peo trade union holiday village in Pervolia, Larnaca.

The event’s host is the Cyprus Agricultural, Forestry, Transport, Port and Allied Occupations trade union Peo (Segdamelin Peo). More than 70 representatives of trade unions from Egypt, Vietnam,Bulgaria, Brazil, Gabon, Greece, the US, the UK, Italy China, Congo Cyprus, Belarus, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Hungary, Ukraine, Pakistan, Portugal, Russia, Somalia, Sudan and Syria are taking part in the event.

The conference will include speeches by Peo general secretary Pambis Kyritsis and Communications Minister Erato Kozokou- Marcoullis. The  Chairman of TUI Transport  Manuel Oliveria and the generally secretary of the world Federation of Trade Unions(WFTU) George Mavrikios will the meeting.

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Cyprus’s efforts to promote itself as an alternative destination to Egypt are being helped by Russian tour operators recommending the island to their customers.

The portal ellada-russia .  ru has reported that the vice president of the Russian Travel Industry  Union, Yuri Barzykin, has advised Russian tourists who cannot travel to Egypt to visit Cyprus and Greece. According to Barzykin, because in Egypt , package tours to quieter destinations in the region have risen by 10-15% in the Russian market and the country’s tourism professionals and their customers are seeking alternative options. Speaking to the Vesti television network, Barzykin advised Russian tourists to adjust their plans and options and choose other destinations.

“A tourism can book early a package to Greece for summer and get a discount of up to 35% and can also visit Cyprus in April.” The events in Egypt-which attracts more than two million Russian tourists year- are expected to cause upheaval  across the  Russian tourist market and redefine prices and priorities. But in previous statements, the press secretary of the Russian Travel Industry Union, Irina Tyurina had said that most packages from Russia to Egypt that have been cancelled are replaced in priority order with destinations like Turkey , Thailand, Goa, Israel and the Maldives. Connerce Industry and  Tourism Minister Antonis  P aschalides said that his ministry , in association with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), is in touch with tour operators and airlines so that Cyprus can be presented as an alternative tourism destination to Egypt.

“We are not trying to exploit the situation in Ein a bad sense. We share the pain of the people of Egypt.

“But because of its geographical position and because of what it can offer as a country. Cyprus is an alternative choice in the event that tour operators and airlines planning to visit Egypt finally decide to chance destination,” Paschalides said on Wednesday. Arrivals from Russian in 2010 were up around 45% Meanwhile , the island’s cruise sector has not been affected, at least for now , by the unrest in Egypt as cruises do not start until  the end of spring , Michalis Maratheftis , Louis Cruises spokesman, told. Salamis Tours , who operate cruises from Cyprus to Egypt once a week starting at the end of April , said their programme will only be affected if the situation there continues.

“For the moment ,our plans  have not changed and we hope to start operating cruises to Egypt at the end of April . We hope things will be normal there by then .” said a spokesperson for the company.

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With less than two weeks to go, final preparations for the Limassol marathon are taking shape; the atmosphere around town is beginning to build, routes are being marked out with cut out figures and banners, and municipality is bracing itself for the thousands of spectators and visitors who will line the seafront and side-streets to watch as the runners sets off at 08.30am on Sunday, February 20. Already more than 1.000 participants are expected to take part in the event although it is difficult to give exact figures since so many register the last minute. It is expected that the figures will be considerably higher than last year “judging by the interest we’ve seen so far internationally via the website and locally” was the comment given by an Olympus Event Management spokesperson , the company organising the Limassol Marathon 2011. As well as the serious athletes taking part in the full Marathon , many others are opting to take part in the Half Marathon or the several other less strenuous options, including the Atlantica Limassol 10km Race, EKO 5 km Corporate Race , 1 km Charity Walk and Run. The Corporate race, a new feature of this year’s event is proving to be very popular with many businesses and corporate companies already registered to participate. As well as the businesses taking place, many charitable organisations are also running as part of a fund raising bid or to create awareness for a cause. `Kane Mia Efchi`, or `Make a Wish` is such a charity. As the Cyprus Association for children with Cancer and similar diseases it is a Cyprus registered charity that works to fulfil as far as possible, the wishes of cancer-affected children. It also offers a psychological support programme and financial support for the children it helps and their families. George Penintaex, the Chariy’s President, said: “This is the second year that `Kane Mia Efxi” is taking part in the Marathon. “We are asking people to support us by registering to do 1km walk or run… we are hoping for a great turnout. If it’s anything like last year there will be lots of people who sign up at the last minute. Everyone is welcome!” Registrations can be sent direct to the charity via email until Friday, February 18 kanemiaehxi1@cytanet.com.cy (tel .22311277, 99448723). Alternatively, additional information and registrations can be made through the official website: www.limassolmarathon.com stating that you wish to run for the “Kane mia Efchi” charity.

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The municipality of Aradippou (Larnaca) is hoping to aid the island’s struggling tourism industry by attracting more Israelis wishing to wed in a civil ceremony.

This week a delegation flew to nearby Israel to meet tourist agencies seeking to further promote Aradippou’s services for fly in, fly out marriages.

Cyprus is a known hotspot for couples seeking a marriage in the sun while liberal local civil marriage laws have helped promote the island as an ideal destination for couples from neighbouring countries looking for an easier way to tie the knot.

The ceremony itself is a short, civil services conducted by the mayor or one of the municipal officials.

Speaking to reporters before his departure to Tel-Aviv , Aradippou Mayor  Chiristakis Liperis said:”we will be meeting with various travel agencies that deal exclusively with sending couples wanting to get married to Cyprus.

We will also be making observations on the tourism trade in the country.”

Strick laws on civil marriages in Israel make Cyprus the perfect destination for couples of various religious backgrounds due to its close proximity to the Jewish state.

As the law stands now, civil marriages in Israel are daunting procedures due to the Orthodox Judaism’s air-tight prohibitions.

These restrictions means  that couple unions are sanctioned by religious authorities and, as there is no form  of civil marriage , cannot be formally entered into i Israel. The problem is especially apparent for ex-Soviet Jews, who moved to Israel and for couples who have completely different religious backgrounds living in Israel.

Cyprus , therefore, presents the perfect solution. But the lucrative  trade of civil marriages in Cyprus means municipalities are vying for clients with Paphos, Ayia Napa and even Larnaca posing as Aradippou, which earns an estimated euro600.000 per year in civil marriage services, does have one major advantage: its close proximity to Larnaca airport.

The municipal council also offers faster marriages-compared to Larnaca at least-because they accept certain documentation that allows a speedier process.

For the past two years, the Municipality of Aradippou has been upgrading its services for civil marriages going as far as altering its town hall and even providing transport services-including limousines-for couples arriving at the airport.

Cyprus has been offering civil weddings since 1923, but has only thrived on this particular trade in the last 20 year.

Israel couples seeking marriage began flooding into Cyprus in the late Eighties.

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Between February 21 and 25,  hunting will be suspended in the areas  of Episkopi, Sotira and Paramali within the Akrotiri  Sovereign Base Area , which will accordingly acquire the status of a temporary game reserve for the said period.

The SBAA recognise that this period was meant to be part of the hunting season-and still is  in the Republic of Cyprus –but are forced to make the suspension in order to conduct essential operational (military) training . the training will include the movement of trops and aircraft in the said areas  and will be accompanied by blank firing and explosions. A ,map showing the extent of the areas affected by the suspension (the areas coloured orange and hatched black on the map) is available for inspection during normal office hours at the Areas Office Akrotiri.

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