Thousands of prospective holiday makers are increasingly falling in love with the so-called ‘island of love’!

Written by: Abu Dhabi Week

The holiday isle of Cyprus is the latest hot spot destination for thousands of residents in the capital eager to plan their summer getaway according to new travel trends.

The luscious Mediterranean island that was the fabled birthplace of the Greek Goddess Aphrodite is proving to be one of the most popular destinations for locals in the Abu Dhabi region, according to officials from the Cyprus Tourist Authority.

The Cyprus authority is the only national agency represented at this week’s Annual Travel & Tourism Exhibition at the Abu Dhabi Mall.

The numbers of holidaymakers coming to Cyprus from the UAE has risen from just 2,000 in 2005 to a staggering 13,000 last year.

Jubilant Cyprus travel chiefs are expecting the figures to soar due to the range of low-cost holidays and Etihad Airways’ new regular flights to Larnaca. Now holidaymakers can enjoy a three-night stay at a four-star hotel on a bed and breakfast basis for AED 1,500 including the flight ... less than half the cost of similar breaks in other Greek centres.

“Cyprus is increasingly proving to be a popular destination for people from Abu Dhabi,” explains Vassilis Theocharides, Director of the Cyprus Tourist Authority in the UAE. “It would appear that possibly people in Abu Dhabi might have more disposable income to spend...or maybe it’s just that they would rather spend their holiday period actually in a resort rather than a city.

“The fact that visitors can actually reach Cyprus in around three hours rather than face longer journeys is also a great attraction.

“We have seen the numbers of people visiting Cyprus from this region rising by 30 per cent year on year, and that trend looks like continuing.”

Originally published in Abu Dhabi Week vol 2 issue 15