Cyprus looks for Casino Consultants

It seems everyday news comes out of Cyprus regarding the soon to be regulated and operational casinos there, and today is no different with the Government announcing they are now in the process of bringing in consultants to advise on the impending new industry.

The consultants according to Government spokesman Christos Stylianides will advise on such matters as location for the casino resort to be built and the facilities that the resort should offer to ensure mass tourism.

Mr Stylianides said, “they will cover the specifics of operating a casino resort, including its location and how it will be chosen.”

Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) director general Marios Hannides said “Cabinet has authorised the Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Energy Minister to use consultants to handle the procedures until the signing of the contract for the casino’s operation.”

Cypriot businessman Panos Englezos has said the decision is a wise one by saying,
“I don’t think gambling rooms alone would serve the community and the casino resort should include other entertainment facilities like stadiums, swimming pools and tennis courts.”
The location of the new casino resort in Cyprus, Englezos said it should be in a city not far from others and taking the tourist areas into consideration.
“The casino should be easily accessible from all tourist areas and also from Nicosia which can play a role in contributing to its success with foreign businessmen having an additional incentive to visit Cyprus. The mountain resorts should also be taken into consideration as up to 50 or 40 years ago, neighbouring, Egypt, Israel and Lebanon accounted for much of Cyprus’ tourism.
“Lack of activities in our mountain resorts has meant losing those tourists and we could regain them if the one resort type casino operated a branch somewhere in the mountains during the summer.”
Whether or not the casino resort should include a hotel has to be studied carefully.
“A small hotel in the resort type casino will not affect the occupancy of existing hotels but on the contrary will enhance it with tourists who would come for the casino,” Englezos said.