The Famagusta golf course dilemma

I have studied the reports on the proposal to create a golf course in the area of Cape Greco by the Department of Forestry and the auditor-general, who is against it, as well as the need for such infrastructure projects in the area.

It is a fact that the tourist season of the Famagusta region is the shortest, leading to a lack of employment during the winter months, even though the Famagusta region hosts  around 37 per cent of tourist arrivals every year.

Two marinas are now being built, one in Ayia Napa and one in Protaras, which will certainly help to engage tourism and upgrade the local tourism product both quantitatively and qualitatively.

There have been more than 2,000 beds added either in the form of expansion or new tourism units, while the upgrading of almost all units is noticeable.

However, low occupancy persists in the winter months despite the existence of hundreds of residential units mainly occupied by people from Nicosia and foreigners which is the main support for the sector.

A golf course would offer activities for visitors and benefit all other local businesses, lengthening the season and increasing the occupancy of the units.

Both the municipalities of Paralimni and Ayia Napa and more recently of Sotira, have shown that they have the ability to carry out projects for the benefit of the local economy, such as with local events like the strawberry festival and the one for kolocasi and concerts.

I believe that the local golf course is imperative to the local economy and its sustainability to a large extent and together with the marinas and expected future projects will help upgrade the image of the area.

As for the water needs for golf courses, this can be solved by using sewage water from the two municipalities right next to the project.

The report from the Environment Committee is against the building of a golf course because it is a Natura 2000 area and migratory birds would be affected and so on.

Of course I am concerned about the issue, but on the other hand the Natura area there is huge including all of Cape Greco up to the Kermia hotel, the lake of Paralimni, the area between Ayia Napa and the Golden Coast Hotel. Infrastructure projects such as the coastal pedestrian walkway along the Kermia-Ayia Napa coast has been abandoned because of this same committee

The proposed golf course project started out as just a golf course with no requirements for hotels, residences and so on, but now the developers are asking for more and more. This is understandable because the golf course alone cannot survive financially.

I am of the opinion that what should have weight is the public interest and what is good for the place and the economy. The classification of an area as Natura does not prohibit development. I point to an EU court decision in a lawsuit to stop the construction of a factory in a Natura area in Hungary, which indicated that the priority is the wellbeing of the residents.

So how do we compromise between the position of the Environment Committee and the residents and economy?

The forestry department takes into account the needs of the region, while the auditor-general is not just against the golf course but also points to corruption.

The public interest and the well-being of local residents and the economy must come first.

The region has a problem of seasonality and should be helped financially, even if in the meantime various golf entrepreneurs benefit.

Antonis Loizou & Associates EPE – Real Estate Appraisers & Development Project Managers, www.aloizou.com.cy, [email protected]

The opinions expressed are solely the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of the Cyprus Mail