Cyprus Tourism Organisation appoints Rooster PR following UK tourist boost

The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) has handed a PR brief to London-based Rooster PR after reporting strong UK visitor figures for the beginning of 2017.

The CTO predicts that 2017 will be a record-breaking year with over three per cent year-on-year increase in UK visitors recorded from January to March.

Cyprus received 99,503 UK visitors from 1 January to 31 March 2017 – a 3.6 per cent increase compared to the 96,009 UK visitors to Cyprus from the same period in 2016.

Rooster PR has been hired to manage its press office and deliver a series of creative campaigns, following a competitive pitch.

The agency will raise awareness of Cyprus as a safe, accessible destination “with the perfect year-round climate”.

Rooster will be responsible for all B2B and B2C, pro-active and re-active media enquiries. This will include a PR plan, news generation, press trip co-ordination and crisis management, as well as social media activity.

The team will also implement two large-scale creative events aimed at generating widespread press awareness of the destination’s tourism offering. Details of the first event, which is due to take place in the second half of 2017, will be announced shortly.

Orestis Rossides, UK director of the CTO, said: “Visitor figures for 2017 are looking positive and this upward trend is only set to continue. Many travellers are already turning to Cyprus for its year-round sunshine, stunning landscapes, world-class spas and range of activities; and with Rooster’s help, we’ll be able to entice many more.

“The team has hit the ground running already and we’re looking forward to working closely with them on some exciting campaigns to further maximise awareness of, and bookings to, Cyprus.”

James Brooke, MD at Rooster, added: “2017 has been a difficult year for many destinations but Cyprus is going from strength to strength, thanks to its great climate, accessible location, safety and varied tourism offering.

“We’re delighted to have been appointed and have already got cracking with plans to help raise further awareness of the destination’s strengths to holidaymakers across the UK. I’m particularly excited about the first high impact event we will be implementing later this year – more will be revealed soon!”