FIRST TECHNICAL MEETING OF THE PROJECT “ANDIKAT”

The Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company participates in the Project titled: “Diving Routes in Marine Protected Areas of the Eastern Mediterranean – Development of a Diving Tourism Network”, with the acronym “ANDIKAT”, which is implemented under the Interreg V-A Cooperation Programme / Greece – Cyprus 2014–2020.

On Wednesday and Thursday, 20 & 21 February 2019, the first meeting of the project participants took place in Limassol, Cyprus. Present at the meeting was also the Project Manager of the Joint Secretariat, Ms. Christiana Poyiatzea.

The project, with a total budget of €3,071,587.76, involves the following partners:

Region of South Aegean (Lead Beneficiary)

Development Agency of the South Aegean Region – ENERGEIAKI S.A.

Ministry of Culture and Sports, General Directorate of Antiquities and Cultural Heritage, Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities

Municipality of Samos

Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment – Department of Fisheries & Marine Research

University of Cyprus, Oceanography Center

Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company

Department of Antiquities – Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works

Representatives of all partners attended the meeting in Limassol.

During the 1st Meeting of the project partners, after reviewing the planning and discussing the implementation of the project, the representatives restated its specific objectives, which relate to:

the development of diving tourism while ensuring modern environmental protection,

the improvement of biodiversity, and

the promotion of natural and cultural heritage.

This will be achieved through the exchange of expertise and experience on the development of diving tourism in both countries, in order to create a solid foundation and preliminary actions. In the near future, this will enable the creation of a network of diving destinations, whether these include diving routes, diving parks, visitable underwater antiquities, modern or historical shipwrecks, artificial reef areas, and more.

The project aims to develop a network of diving routes in marine areas as a tool for:

protecting the marine environment,

preserving natural heritage,

showcasing cultural heritage,

raising public awareness on marine protection, and

promoting sustainable tourism development, especially diving tourism, by enriching and diversifying the available tourist services.

The promotion of new ideas and the transfer of know-how on the management and protection of marine areas with diving activity, as well as on the promotion and networking of a new tourism product, will contribute to strengthening the economy and diversifying activities in the project areas. This will allow the development of infrastructure and the accumulation of experience for cross-border sustainable development and economic planning, with emphasis on tourism.

On the first day of the meeting, an on-site visit was conducted to the existing artificial reefs in the Limassol area (Dasoudi and Amathus), supported by the Department of Fisheries & Marine Research and the Department of Antiquities.