Sunvil founder director Noubar ‘John’ der Parthog died earlier this month aged 90.
His belief that tourism should be used as a tool for good led to the establishment of Cyprus Property Tours in 1968, renting rural houses to visitors to breathe life into the island’s ailing villages.
The idea was to provide an income to those who could no longer afford to remain in their family homes due to the economic shift from inland to the coast.
Sunvil was formed in 1970 Sunvil and current chairman Noel Josephides started to work with the company initially as an agent and subsequently as a partner.
The ethos and beliefs of der Parthog formed an integral part of the company’s approach to holidays and went on to have a significant influence on the career of Josephides, current chairman of Abta, chair of the Travel Foundation and director of the Association of Independent Tour Operators.
Sunvil still promotes rural properties and hotels in the mountain villages of Cyprus, and works to promote tourism to the island that both empowers the local population and instils pride – an approach that has been adopted across Sunvil’s entire portfolio.
Born in Ethiopia in 1927, der Parthog was in the Sunvil office daily until recently, remaining an active member of the board of the operator.
He will be remembered as a gentle grandfather figure with a fondness for Tunnocks caramel biscuits and a passion for languages – he was fluent in five and could hold a conversation in many more.
Sunvil managing director Chris Wright said: “John will be much missed by staff, both past and present, and by all those with whom he came into contact.”
Josephides added: “I’ve lost not only a friend of 50 years’ standing, but also a long-term business partner, a much-respected influencer and a important sounding board as we developed the business together through good times and bad, including the invasion of Cyprus in 1974.”
Der Parthog is survived by his wife, Gwynneth, two children, Dudley and Judith, and recently-married granddaughter, Suzanne.