Agrotourism in Cyprus Cyprus received an International Award for the programme promoted by the Cyprus Tourist Organisation on February 25th at a coremony held in London, Cyprus was among the five winners, along with Britain, Australia, Ghana and Trinidad. Trie aim of the competition is to reward tourism related programmes that show respect and sensitivity towards environmental integrity and cultural diversity. The programme has largely achieved its original objectives, namely; a) it has created tourism infrastructure and encouraged new entrepreneurial activities in the rural areas of Cyprus b) it introduced Cyprus as a tourist destination c) it helped smooth out the seasonal pattern of Cyprus tourism because agrotourism is an all season product d) it has directed quality tourism to the countryside A central objective of the Agrotourlsm Programme war, to facilitate the revitallsalion of the countryside. According to the Programme, 50 villages with traditional architecture wore selected and the restoration of traditional buildings and their conversion into tourist establishments such as accommodation units, folk art centres and museums was financed by the C.T.O. Tradition and customs are cor© Ingredients of the agrotourism product. For Instance, in the field of traditional cuisine old recipes that survived through the ages were compiled and edited. Thoy embarked on an effort to educate the inhabitants of the countryside as well as traditional restaurant owners on the merits of the Cyprus cuisine, and the preparation of the traditional dishes In the traditional way. Similar activities wore pursued with traditional arts and crafts (embroidery, pottery-making, silverware, icon-making), Cyprus folklorlc dances and music, wine-making and architecture, Protecting and promotion of the local vernacular architecture is a very sensitivo issue because no new construction development would be encouraged in the villages. Moreover, strict planning approval procedures have been introduced to ensure that traditional houses are correctly renovated and the level of facilities offered to the guest satisfies Cyprus's strict hotel classification requirements. 2 $ 31 S g E 3 § 1" ti •St t .a 7s 'h _ IJj -— ui Ů 8 0) í M 9 Í5 'si 3-1 § if! 1 J 'is s> it * if if u o 8 í 1ST g '■5 „ 'o 33 in ID jD ?■ & & $ -K % ii| E II III i £ £ ,8 Y % I $ § If ■I fs e PI The agrotourist product is preferred by a new, more sophisticated type of tourist, environmentally and culturally conscious and educated, and not so price sensitive. Such a tourist may also prefer off-season vacation, and stay away from the overcrowded beach resorts. An agrotourism programme can not only show the way for the development of cultural tourism products, but ii can also provide a firm basis upon which such products can be developed, as it can supply the tourist infrastructure around which local entrepreneurs would set up their cultural tourism enterprises. Choose from the list A-F the sentence that best summarises each part 1--5. There is on<; extra sentence which you don't need to use. A The C.T.O. leadership B Bevltalisation of the countryside C Local entrepreneurs' support D Architecture protection E Traditional cuisine and arts P The objectives of the Agrotourism programme Road the text below. Use the word given at the end of each line to form a word that fits in the space in the same line. The Cotswolds is an area of great 1... ._.....___.....in England. It has a number of 2. _________villages and small towns with lovely old buildings that have remained 3.__....._______......since the area was a major 4,_____ _ _____ centre several centuries ago. The countryside in the area is 5.____________________, and most of the buildings there are made from an 6.______.....____type of light stone that is particular to the Cotswolds. In the summer, the Cotswolds can get rattier 7._________.....________but it is always possible to find pretty places that do not have the 8.. of the more well-known villages and towns. There is no 9.____________________of pleasant hotels and 10._______________inns for visitors to stay in and the Cotswolds area is an excellent place for an 11._________........... weekend or longer trip. beautiful delight change commerce charm attract crowd famous short tradition enjoy UJ o 1 U.I H p