Shopping baskets for self-catering and apartment holidays in Cyprus cost more than other comparable destinations, a survey has found. The `Self-catering on a Shoestring” barometer 2011, by Post Office Travel Money was published in Britain`s Daily Mirror and showed that when it comes to weekly baskets of food staples, prices in Limassol are 79% higher than the Algarve, Portugal. Four cartons of orange juice to last a family of four for a week`s holiday cost as much as 8.12euro in Limassol compared to 3.72euro in the Algarve.

The survey found that a packet of butter cost 2.17euro in Limassol compared to 94 cents in the Algarve.

Five litres of milk cost 6.55euro in Limassol compared to 3.75euro in the Algarve while two children`s cereals are 4.72euro in Limassol compared to 4.50euro in Portugal. The survey showed that a basket of shopping including bread, butter, children`s cereals, eggs, orange juice, tomatoes, toilet rolls, teabags, coffee, water, beer and wine will cost a family 55.64euro in Limassol compared to 44.23euro in Majorca, 33.42euro in Costa Brava, Spain and 31.09euro in Algarve.

Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) acting director general Lefkos Fylaktides said this week the decline in the tourism flow from Britain – the islan`s main market – has stopped and more tourists are also coming from Russia and central Europe.

“Tourism traffic from the UK, which remains by far our main market, is somewhat numb, somewhat problematic. However, the downward trend of arrivals of British holiday makers has stopped and we expect to have positive year-end results from the British market,” Fylaktides told reporters. Asked whether the instability in nearby Middle East has benefited some destinations, Fylaktides said: “It`s always sad to see friendly and neighbouring countries facing these problems. The reality is that the tourism flow in some neighbouring destinations has been affected seriously. Many destinations in the Mediterranean, including Cyprus, have benefited from the problems of these destinations, although I would not say that the benefit for Cyprus was major as these countries attract different markets.”

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Although Larnaca`s beaches are considered to be safe, thanks to the shallow waters that extend a good way out the sea, there is still a need for common sense to be applied and to follow the advice of the trained life-guards.

The Larnaca beach area stretches from the CTO beach, just outside Dhekelia, along to the village of Ayios Theodoros. There are lifeguard posts at the CTO beach, next to the Palm Beach Hotel, Yanathes Oroklini area, Lenios Beach Hotel, Phinikoudes, Castella and Mackenzie beaches.

Phinikoudes, Castella and Mackenzie beaches come under Larnaca Municipality. Local councils pay for the lifeguards on duty and lifeguards are in attendance depending on the demand.

They generally work from 10.30am until 6pm, five days a week, and lifeguard coverage usually starts in June and runs until September.

The Blue Flag beaches in the Larnaca area are Faros, Mackenzie, Phinikoudes, Yanathes and Castella.

All have disabled access, except Castella. Beaches are awarded the Blue Flag based on compliance with 32 criteria covering environmental education and information, water quality, environmental management and safety and services.

Larnaca beaches are considered to be quite safe due to the shallow water.

Depending on the beach, the sea level remains at approximately 1m deep from 50 up to 70m out from the shore.

But common sense and caution should prevail as seas can be dangerous anywhere.

If there are any possible dangers to swimmers, informative signs or red warning buoys are placed in areas that swimmers should avoid.

Flags are flown on the beaches to show the current sea conditions. A yellow and red flag shows that a lifeguard is on duty and that the sea is calm.

A yellow flag indicates that the sea is not calm and swimmers should be cautious. A red flag indicates danger, possibly strong winds and swimming is not allowed.

To ensure safety in the sea, the advice is to swim within approximately 100 to 150m either side of the lifeguard station.

The closer you are, the lesser the risk.

If you have any questions about the sea and your safety, speak to the life guards on duty at your beach. They know the area and are happy to advise you.

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There is a treat in store for cat lovers this Sunday with the first feline competitive show being held under the umbrella of the Pan-Cyprian Cat Club (PCC).

Local PCC members, Brian and Amanda Walker, are at the helm of the Paphos event which is anticipated to have about 65 cats competing in 12 categories.

“Most of the PCC members are in the Nicosia and Larnaca areas but there are lots of cat lovers in Paphos,” Brian Walker told . “We are expecting quality cats to come along. If it is a success, the PCC had said it will consider inviting Paphos to host an international show so we are hoping for a successful event.”

The Walkers themselves breed Persian cats and will be entering one of their pets.

The PCC operators under the umbrella of The International Federation of Felines, FIFE, which describes itself as `the United Nations of Cat Federations` . Its 42 member organisations follow FIFE rules with regard to breeding standards, cattery names, shows, judges and student judges.

Categories at the Paphos show include Best Young Cat, Best Throughbred and Best of the Show. Cats do not have to be thoroughbreds to be entered as there are several open classes for participants.

Winners will receive trophies and certificates as marks of their success.

The PCC Paphos Cat Show takes place at The Coral Beach Hotel on Sunday, July 3. Registration starts at 9am with judging commencing at 9:30. The show will run until 6:30pm with awards presented at 5:30pm. Entrance for adults is 5 euro and free for children.

For PCC members, the fee for registration is 15 euro per cat. For non-members the fee is 25 euro.

Information is available for Brian Walker on 99 061 900.

For general information on the PCC, Maria Matoissian, president of the organisation, can be reached at mvrr@spidernet.com.cy

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The number of tourists visiting the Northern Cyprus has increased by nine per cent in comparision to the same period last year. Figures are expected to increase by 20 per cent for the period of July and August.

Prime Minister Irsen Kucuk who promoted the Northern Cyprus on the world`s leading travel channel, the World Travel Channel, during his recent visit to Istanbul said that the goal was to raise the number of tourists to one million by 2012.

Drawing attention to fact that the country`s investments in the field of tourism was growing, the Premier reminded that a new hotel with 1,200 bed capacity was to come into service soon.

He also said that more new hotels would be opening their doors next year to accommodate visitors. The country`s total bed capacity will reach 18,000 once the new hotels open.

“Our goal is to raise the country`s bed capacity to 40,000. Not all these hotels will be 5-star hotels. We have also started to focus on opening 3-4-star boutique hotels. There are new investments and applications on the way,” he added.

Also touching upon charter flights, Kucuk said that they were expecting around 20,000 Polish tourists to visit the Northern Cyprus this summer.

He also said that charter flights from other destinations, such as Azerbaijan and Iran, will also launch flights to the North Cyprus.

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The Minister of Tourism, Environment and Culture Unal Ustel is holding a series of contacts in London with the aim of attracting the British tourism market to the TRNC.

Following his meetings with officials from a professional promotion campaign based in London, the Minister pointed out that tourism promotion in Britain will continue.

He reminded that Britain is the second biggest tourism market for the TRNC. Having noted that Turkey and Britain have been the two tourism markets which have sustained the TRNC tourism for years, he said the TRNC tourism will develop further by opening up into alternative markets.

The Minister noted that new tourism markets were opening up in the Netherlands, Belgium, Azerbaijan, Iran and Poland.

Minister Ustel also visited the London Turkish Radio and some newspaper headquarters which have been cooperating with the Ministry in order to attract Cyprus Turks residin in Britain to the TRNC.

During his visits, Ustel said that the targeted group is giving positive feedback to promotional activities.

Corendon Airlines, whose centre is in Antalya, Turkey, has transferred tourists from many countries, including Holland, Poland and Belgium, to the TRNC. According to the written statement of Corendon Airlines, they brought tourists to the TRNC from Holland, despite complaints from the Greek Cypriot administration last year.

In the statement, it was underlined that they aimed to carry 20,000 tourists from Poland to the TRNC within this year, and 5,000 tourists were taken to the TRNC last year.

Pegasus Airlines, are now offering a combination of “smart travel with smart stays” by signing a partnership with global leader in online hotel bookings, Booking.com.

Pegasus guests who visit www.flypgs.com can now access and make bookings in more than 135,000 hotels in 101 countries around the world via Booking.com.

Destinations include Ankara, Bodrum, Dalaman, Diyarbakir, Istanbul, Izmir, Kayseri, Samsun, Sivas, Trabzon and Van.

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