Spate of improvements aim to boost Larnaca tourism

The Larnaca tourism development company (Etap) on Thursday announced it has completed a number of upgrades to beaches as part of efforts to enrich and green the district’s coastal attractions.

The upgrades include the creation of beach volleyball courts, installation of exercise machines, creation of access ramps, placement of amphorae at the ‘Elpida’ wreck, and planting of palm trees in Voroklini and at the kitesurfing beach in Kiti.

According to the Etap, the goal of the six-year-long efforts are to “upgrade and enrich the tourist product of the region as well as highlight [its] comparative advantages.”

Among other improvements announced by Etap are making three children’s parks in Odou, Melini and Ora “bee-friendly”; creating “Instagrammable” spots in Ayios Theodoros and Aradippou; strengthening the collection of artifacts for the Kallinikeon Museum of Athienou and construction of the Fishing Museum in Zygi.

Digital tourist tools will continue to be rolled out, with the 3D virtual restoration of the Church of the Holy Cross in Tochni; the virtual tour of the city and its reference points in 360° forma; and the creation of a griffin map for touring the city’s talking statues.

Three more museums were added to the Larnaca Virtual Museums platform – the Folk Art Museum in Kato Dris, the Ecclesiastical Museum of Tochni and the Kostas Argyrou Museum in Mazotos.

Other actions aim to improve the city’s aesthetics by limiting visual pollution and removal illegal advertising from pavements, dividing islands and other public spaces, as well as erasing graffiti.