Towar Sustainability Tourism in the republic of Cyprus Term Paper

Towar Sustainability Tourism in the republic of Cyprus - Term Paper Example Indeed, various communities rely on tourism to bring economic growth and stability into the community. Nevertheless, many people overlook the potential and environmental impact that tourism brings to a society. In fact, various confirm that many of Less Developed Countries (LDCs) engage in unsustainable tourism development, which generates irreversible and adverse effects that lead to social, cultural, and environmental challenges on the reference economy. Nevertheless, various communities and governmental agencies like European Union and United Nations agencies have been trying to promote sustainable tourism development across the world. However, the LCDs manifest lack of concern to these interventions to lack of knowledge and commitment towards sustainable tourism development and hence the continued unsustainable tourism development. Notably, tourism activities in Cyprus are prone to these dynamics. The republic of Cyprus is a dominant tourist destination because it is seemingly lo cated between three continents where it is at the top right hand corner of the Mediterranean and it is very close to Europe, Asia, and Africa. Before the contemporary development and planning of tourism, the republic of Cyprus had many tourism activities but it was yet to reach maximum development (Harrison & Husbands, 1996). Indeed, there were more than 21,000 visitor arrivals and 4000 beds between 5 towns in Cyprus (Harrison & Husbands, 1996). The Cyprus Tourism Organisation is responsible for the tourist planning and research and the development and marketing of the tourist product in Cyprus (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2013). Established in 1969 by the Republic of Cyprus, the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) is a statutory body whose main aim was to organize and promote tourism in the Republic of Cyprus, by using all possibilities and resources available (Harrison & Husbands, 1996). The CTO does not offer travel agent services but focuses on offering assistance to professional bodies, companies and individuals who have an interest in Cyprus' tourism with an overall goal of enhancing economic growth in Cyprus (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2013). Indeed, the CTO had a policy that consistently aimed at attracting high and middle-income visitors to the exclusion of mass tourism (Harrison & Husbands, 1996). Another body that regulated tourism in Cyprus is the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry, and Tourism. This ministry had a mandate of formulating and implementing Government policy on matters pertaining to trade, industry, tourism, and Consumer, in such a way that it will contribute positively towards the further development of the Cyprus economy and the well-being of the population of the island (Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism, 2013). The factors affecting tourism activities in Cyprus include the Turkish invasion that occurred in 1974 placing a hold on all economic activity in Cyprus. The invasion sought to divide Cyprus in to two b y invoking the Treatee of Guarantee (Harrison & Husbands, 1996). This jeopardized tourism development in Cyprus as the island lost a huge part of its territory as well as its potential in manufacturing and agriculture. Indeed, there was a closure of most accommodation, entertainment, and catering buildings as well as airports, which limited access top various place in Cyprus (Harrison & Husbands, 1996). This lowered the tourist levels and forced the government to consider