Cyprus has always been a popular destination for European tourists, with its warm year-round climate making in popular both in the summer and winter months. Now, following the country's accession into the European Union, it has become even more accessible particularly from the UK, which remains the biggest market for visitors to the Mediterranean island. The plan was for a reunified Cyprus to join the European Union on May 1 this year but the country remains divided after Greek Cypriots rejected a plan by Kofi Annan, the United Nations secretary general, for reunification during a public referendum in late April. Although the goal remains to bring the two sides together the vote would seem to suggest that it could be some time before the country is reunified although recent dialogue between the Turkish and Greek Cypriots has at least helped reduce the border controls and visitors can now more easily travel across from the south to the occupied northern regions.
Although Cyprus is popular with visitors from Eastern Europe its long-term historical links to the UK mean that the majority of visitors are British. Over 1.3 million British holidaymakers visit the island each year and many of these are repeat visitors that return to Cyprus every year. The island is like an extension of the UK but with a much warmer climate and more relaxed laid back atmosphere. English is the second language in the country and cars drive on the left. Regular flights are offered between the UK and the island by national carriers British Airways and Cyprus Airways, as well as inclusive tour packages through all of the leading and many independent tour operators. In the past four years a new carrier Helios Airways, the first private airline in Cyprus, has played an important role in attracting additional traffic to the island. The airline had begun operations as a purely charter carrier but has since repositioned itself in the market offering scheduled services at low-prices.
Cyprus is 3,752 square miles in size, has a population of 754,800 people and offers visitors a real mix of activities. During the winter months you can even swim in the Mediterranean in the morning and go skiing in the Troodos mountains in the afternoon. Popular resorts like Pafos, Agia Napa, Limassol and Protaras are also stepped in history offering an appealing blend of old and new, offering ancient sites and sun-soaked beaches. The capital city Lefkosia (Nicosia) remains the only divided capital city in the world and is surrounded by huge 16th century fortifications.
Even by focussing on just one small area, for example Limassol, the second largest town in Cyprus, you can tailor a holiday to meet your precise requirements. At the top end of the market you can enjoy pure splendour at the five-star Amathus Beach Hotel or the amazing Le Meridien Limassol Spa & Resort. The latter, a residents-only hotel, offers visitors complete privacy and is set on the beachfront amidst lush landscaped gardens, making it very popular with the rich and famous. The hotel is also home to a unique thalassotherapy spa, the only one of its kind in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, just a short drive away from this exclusive resort and you will find yourself close to the villages of Kalavasos and Tochni, where you can sample traditional Cypriot village life and stay in small self-catering apartments in the middle of these small villages. Whether you are interested in partying all night, pampering yourself in an amazing spa hotel, or looking to sample the true local way of life, Cyprus has a lot to offer.