Page 15 - 2021 ACTA's Guide to Cyprus Tourism

ACTA

A brief history of the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents

The Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) is organizational structure level, the statutes were amended
predominantly the non-governmental organization that and a new memorandum was adopted incorporating
monitors all local and international developments concerning a code of ethics covering relations of members with
the issues of tourism and travel and performs responsible customers and between them.
policy to rationalize these forward. • A legal advisor has been engaged since 1981 in order to
counsel the Association and its members on legal matters.
ACTA incorporates the majority of Cyprus Travel Agents • The publication of ACTAS’ own Directory made its first
and Tour Operators, who represent nearly all foreign tourism appearance in 1985.
companies and organizations cooperating with our country. • From 1987, ACTA took a new step in promoting its
international image and its members, by participating in
Official recognition and affirmation of the responsible position international tourist fairs.
of ACTA and its important role, is the fact that it has been • In 1997, the Association organized its first educational trip
designated, by legislation, as the License Authority for Cypriot abroad for its members to Thessaloniki.
Tour Operators. • In 1998 ACTA became an affiliate member of the European
Community Travel Agents Association (ECTAA). This
ACTA completed 60 years since its founding in 1954 and has followed the start of accession negotiations between the
emerged throughout this period as the organization which European Commission and Cyprus for full membership.
establish the solid foundations of the Cyprus Tourism and • Since 1998 The Association is organizing the tourism
travel with its vision, planning and responsible behavior. exhibition “TAXIDI” targeted to Cypriot travelers. During
the same year ACTA was included in the Board of Directors
From its first days ACTA insisted on an orderly development for the Tourist Guides School.
and upgrading of the tourism industry and had been pressing • Since 1999 ACTA is by Law the approved Licensing Body
for the establishment of a regulatory body for the tourist for Cypriot Tour Operators.
trade. It is clearly recorded in the minutes of ACTA Special • A prominent activity underlying the international dimension
General Meeting of September 1960, less than a month after of ACTA was the organization during December 2000 in
the official Act of Independence of the Cyprus Republic, that Cyprus of the 82nd biannual meeting of ECTAA.
the Association presented to the Ministry of Commerce and • In the European field, ACTA had been assigned the
Industry the need for an Advisory Committee to the Tourist Presidency of the ECTAA’s Working Group on Incoming
Development Office of the Government and for proper re- Tourism (2002 – 2004), a recognition reflecting not only on
classification of existing hotels and regular inspection of all ACTA, but also on the whole of Cyprus.
places of tourist interest and use. ACTA also emphasized the • During 2004 ACTA celebrated with special events its
need for appropriate tourist legislation, providing, inter alia, 50th anniversary and continued its efforts to upgrade the
for conditions and prerequisites under which a Travel Agent profession of Travel and Tourism Agents.
may be considered and officially registered as an approved • 2008 was another landmark year for ACTA. From 27
Licensed Agent. May 2008 and for a period of two years, ACTA took over
• For better planning and management the need for a with its president Akis Kelepeshis the Presidency of the
tourism regulating body was highlighted and the Cyprus European Travel Agent’s and Tour Operators’ Association
Tourism Organisation (CTO) was eventually formed in 1973 (ECTAA). This development bestows a great honor and
by Government legislation. high recognition to ACTA and its professional potential in
• In 1974 immediately after the catastrophe of the Turkish tourism and travel.
invasion and the occupation of a large part of Cyprus,
ACTA joined the membership of the Cyprus Chamber of Being at the top of the European travel agents organizations,
Commerce and Industry (CCCI) which offered to ACTA full ACTA acquired increased potential for promoting tourism
secretariat facilities in the Chamber offices. Capitalizing on affairs not only at the national but also at European level. The
CCCI membership, ACTA achieved upgraded recognition Association always keeps a close watch on developments and
both at national and international field. In the same year the is proposing to the competent authorities’ relevant effective
Association was fully established as a legal body and in the measures.

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