CADOGAN Holidays has decided to continue selling Cyprus after the country’s tourist chiefs pledged to step up their support.
Managing director Gary David announced in May he was dropping the Cyprus programme at the end of the year due to poor sales and an ‘unhelpful’ Cyprus Tourism Organisation. Cadogan carried 1,626 to the destination last year compared to 8,400 eight years ago.
But when news of Cadogan’s plan to pull out of Cyprus reached the island’s tourist chiefs, they pledged to give marketing funds to the operator, which features six hotels in its Collections brochure.
Several initiatives have now been agreed following a meeting with the CTO’s UK director Orestis Rossides. Cadogan’s Cyprus 2000 programme will offer 14 hotels in the first half of the Collections brochure.
The properties will also be featured in a special flyer that will allow Cadogan to take part in the annual CTO roadshow. It has not had a presence in the past as the Collections brochure features rival destinations.
In addition, the CTO and Cadogan will take 150 agents to the island this autumn and next spring, and jointly fund an advertising campaign while the CTOwill teach Cadogan sales staff about the destination.
David warned he would pull out at the end of 2000 if the initiatives failed to increase sales.
Cyprus specialist Argo Holidays managing director Mathilde Robert condemned Cadogan’s change of heart. “This is not good for Cyprus as it creates uncertainty in the destination. How can you sell a product you do not believe in?” she said.