|
CYPRUS was originally famous as the birthplace of the legendary Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, who arose from the ocean one bright morning and waded ashore. She liked what she found, it appears, because she decided to settle down there.
The word soon got around that a glamour puss with a penchant for l'amour, had set up shop on this bountiful sun-kissed island basking in the Mediterranean and it wasn't long before a series of lotharios began arriving, to test the water and chill out for a spell.
Little has changed with the passing of the centuries. Southern Cyprus is now as legendary as its founder and, like Aphrodite's lovers of yore, admirers keep coming back for more.
It's true what they say of Cyprus, that you'll always return. You'll go back first for the climate, an unending panoply of sunshine where the seasons melt into each other almost without notice. You'll return, too, for cuisine, and if you've never tasted Greek Cypriot food your culinary education is sadly deficient.
The warmth of the people is another bonus: they're a most hospitable race with a great affinity for the British whose legacy of benevolent colonisation is much in evidence. English is the second language and drivers keep to the left.
The residue of 9,000 years of history is another major attraction. The island is the bridge between Asia, the Middle East and Europe and it has been invaded with metronomic regularity down the ages, from Roman times until 1974, when Turkey annexed the northern extremity it still occupies.
Ruins abound on this huge chunk of rock hurled from the depths of the Mediterranean by volcanic explosion back in the mists of time: the skeletal remains of ancient temples, monasteries and palaces litter the ochre-hued limestone hilltops that stretch as far as the eye can see.
It has a 300 mile coastline and a population of 600,000, predominantly of Greek origin although they'll proudly tell that their ancestors were Phoenician.
The two thirds of the island that is still autonomous is a thriving community thanks to virtually full employment and a robust economy, both derived from tourism that attracts close on two million visitors a year, most of them British.
The consequence of all this is a sound infrastructure: well-ordered cities and towns and two major airports, all now linked by modern motorways, impeccably serviced and luxurious beach-side hotels, a thousand open air restaurants and a bustling nightlife.
Thanks to its idyllic climate and seemingly endless beaches Cyprus enjoys a protracted holiday season but, as at many year-round holiday destinations, entrepreneurs have discovered the off-season merits of golf and the more affluent market it attracts. They like our style, it seems, and are putting out the welcome mat.
They have two courses extant, of which more anon, but at least three major projects are under way, promising to elevate the island into the top echelons of golf destinations.
One is near the city of Limassol where a consortium of seven de luxe hotels has acquired a long term lease of government land for a major resort-style golf complex; a second is an hour to the south, near the town of Paphos, an appealing resort with an airport only 15 minutes away.
Both projects are still in the planning stages but at the third the formalities have been completed, the infrastructure is installed and initial construction is under way.
This is also close to Paphos and adjacent to Secret Valley, one of the existing courses. Its opening date is eagerly awaited, its launch will be a watershed in the history of Cyprus tourism.
The project, known as the Aphrodite Hills resort, is backed by serious local money and expense is no object; this will be a prestigious resort of international calibre.
The site covers 234 hectares on a plateau overlooking the Mediterranean and the Secret Valley course. Phase one, to be completed by autumn of 2002, will include a spa and health facility, a tennis club, restaurants and shops.
Later, in the next phase, there will be a 290 roomed five star hotel and the first of 1,000 residential units, villas, townhouses and apartments.
The golf course has been designed by the Spanish-based American Cabell Robinson who has transformed the golfing scene in Morocco where a dozen courses carry his stamp.
The first show villas will be ready in October 2001, and infrastructure works are scheduled for completion by December 2001. The 18-hole golf course and clubhouse should be open by Autumn 2002 and will be followed by the completion of the hotel, health spa, tennis academy and village square by Spring 2003.
The total outlay? Well, the golf course and the initial facilities will cost close to £5 million sterling. For the remainder, roll the sum of £150 million around the mind and you'll see that they're serious.
Page [1], [2] - [next page]
|
