Zygote Limited Choletria Hill Holiday Village The Cyprus Tourist Organisation P.O. BOX 24535 Nicosia, Cyprus Date: 2007 Dear Sirs APPLICATION FOR A MOBILE HOLIDAY HOME VILLAGE SITE LICENCE INTRODUCTION This is an application to the Cyprus Tourist Organisation (CTO) for licensing of a mobile home holiday village providing “Hill Resort Rural Accommodation” in the old village of Choletria in the Paphos District. v It is proposed that there will be 40 new units of up to 3 bedrooms each and the site facilities will include a small reception building, communal swimming pool, washing and toilet block with sewerage, water and electricity services. v All services will aim to be sustainable and eco friendly using solar and wind energy systems and water recycling wherever possible. v Although there is a new taverna approximately 300 metres from the site it is still considered appropriate to consider an informal BBQ based eating place on the site. v The existing Choletria and Nata villages have mini-markets, restaurants, and local Co-op Banks for everyday requirements. These facilities will not need to be provided on site. v The mobile holiday home units are wheeled and there will be no permanent attachment to the land. v A planning application will be submitted to the Planning Authority of Paphos District for the reception building, communal swimming pool, washing and toilet block with sewerage, water and electricity services. v Mobile holiday homes have evolved from the static caravans British families once holidayed in the UK. But modern designs and materials used by British manufacturers such as Delta have massively increased the life expectancy of mobile homes, with spacious interiors that make you feel as though you’re stepping into a villa. v The designs are very sympathetic to the landscape and illustrations are provided in the application. Zygote Limited Choletria Hill Holiday Village The Mayor of Choletria, Kyriakos Papalazarou, has been consulted personally and he is in full support of this proposition. It fits with the Community Board strategy of wishing to regenerate the old village of Choletria which was vacated in 1953. The benefits to the village community will be the supply of goods and services and direct employment in the maintenance of the park. A summary of the benefits is as follows; v Socio-Economic Revitalisation of Rural Villages v Better social and geographic distribution of the economic benefits from tourism v Diversification of the Tourist Product Development of Special Interest Activities in Rural Areas v Conservation of the natural, cultural and built environment provision of a unique multi- dimensional “Cyprus Experience” This proposition recognises the objectives of The River Valleys Project, Eastern Paphos, Cyprus (1999-2003) where the nearby villages of Kelokedara and Nata participated directly. THE APPLICANTS Zygote Limited is registered in Cyprus and has direct connections with Cyprus through its Directors and Shareholders. It is a family business and it is expected that the next generation of the families will be working in the joint venture in a few short years. Zygote Limited is already the owner of a large plot of land in Choletria which it wishes to see used in a way which is sympathetic to the countryside. The Directors are currently residents of the UK with a family home in Pegeia where they will live once their son has completed his education. COMPLIANCE WITH THE CTO, TOURISM PLAN 2003 – 2010 The Applicants are acquainted with the above and wish to participate in Rural Tourism by providing Hill Resort Rural Accommodation in Choletria. Capitalising on the island’s rich cultural heritage and diversity that it is keen to preserve and share with visitors, the CTO is understood to be targeting a discerning clientele that increasingly want more than sun, sea and sand. The CTO’s long-established and award-winning Agrotourism programme remains a key component of the rural tourism strategy. Holidaymakers can immerse themselves in the authentic culture and sample a slice of village life participating in the activities, traditions and lifestyle of the locals. The rural areas offer a varied cultural landscape with archaeological sites, monasteries, museums, whilst traditional crafts such as basket-making, pottery, weaving, wood-carving and lace-making are still maintained. Visitors can stay in modern well equipped mobile homes or traditional stone houses, take part in fruit picking, producing olive oil, learning to make bread and halloumi as well as arts and crafts. The Applicants have included the new CTO logo strap lined “Rural Cyprus – feeling the experience” at the head of this application. This will feature in all promotional material. They understand that the logo incorporates a jug and a sheaf of wheat symbolising the hospitality and fertility of Cyprus. Zygote Limited Choletria Hill Holiday Village As well as the most local interests some of the areas to be promoted as part of Hill Resort Rural Accommodation in Choletria include: v Wine tours – home to world’s oldest named wine Commandaria and 15 indigenous varieties of grapes; development of 14 themed wine routes with tours through vineyards on mountains, monasteries, antique presses and boutique wineries; highest vineyard in Europe at Kyperounda v Gastronomy – unique Vakhis project to preserve and promote authentic cuisine and traditional tavernas; amazing range of produce grown from traditional Mediterranean citrus and olives to tropical fruits such as mangoes, kiwis and bananas; culinary adventure of meze using fresh produce and blending flavours of Europe, Middle East and Africa v Hiking and rambling – 70 nature trails; E4 long distance route across the island v Cycling – specialised cycling guidebook; 40 cycling routes throughout the island; EU to co- fund the whole cycling network that will eventually cover the entire island. Phase 1 is currently being implemented to cover the cycling route in the Troodos area. Choletria Village could well provide mountain bike hire to visitors. v Winter sports – skiing and snowboarding possible on Mount Olympus during short ski season; annual Troodos International Ski Competition each February v Angling – 21 reservoirs provide fresh-water fishing; 17 species of fish stocked with “catch and keep” at all but two sites v Flora and fauna – 130 unique plant species; Moufflon, the indigenous wild sheep and symbol of the island; Green and Loggerhead turtles breeding ground v Ornithology – on main migratory path; breathtaking sight of thousands of Flamingos nesting on the Larnaca and Akrotiri salt lakes during winter v Religion – It is understood that the CTO is implementing a programme to be co-funded by the EU for developing a Byzantine route network, which will include 30 thematic routes. A specialised guide is being produced by CTO with all Byzantine routes, which will be translated in several languages, including English. Cyprus hosted the world’s first conference on religious tourism, ICORET; it is first country in world governed by a Christian leader; it has 10 Byzantine churches in Troodos region on UNESCO World Heritage List It is understood that the CTO Plan for the Development of Rural Tourism has been drawn up in line with the National Development Plan 2004-2006 and the Single Programming Document Objective 2. The former does not limit itself only to the development of accommodation infrastructure in restored traditional houses, but it also includes actions and measures towards the creation of an integrated tourist product for the countryside, enhanced by projects of cultural and environmental nature that are addressed to special interests and activities. As you can see the Applicants wish to directly support this programme and have advised the Mayor of Choletria that they will sponsor local projects, for example exhibition areas, museums, workshops for traditional handicrafts and other activities. Zygote Limited Choletria Hill Holiday Village It is understood that the CTO Rural Tourism Plan recognises the creation of new accommodation as well as the upgrade of existing agrotourist accommodation and our sympathetic proposition will provide at least an additional 120 beds. THE SITE Background The village Choletria is 15 minutes from Paphos and 5 minutes to the Aphrodites Hill golf course. The village got its name due to the fact that the old Choletria is shaped as a Choletra which is a greek word for that type of shape, namely a water spout. The village has approximately 500 residents and is growing slowly. Many people have said that this village as well as the village of Nata , are the path way to love , due to the fact that ATHONIS AND APHRODITE would meet up and take there walk through these villages, so they are considered as the villages of LOVE. The village has a spectacular view of the sea and the ASPROKREMMOS dam, it also has many picturesque mountains. For those who are lovers of nature there is no better place! The villages of Choletria and Nata are approximately 10 – 15 minutes away from Paphos Airport and only 25 minutes from Limassol. Here you can find mini-markets, restaurants, and local Co-op Banks for everyday requirements. All other amenities are close by in the towns of Paphos and Limassol. Description of the site Land situated at Choletria village in Paphos District, registered with the Land Registry in Paphos with registration details number of registration 3785, sheet/plan: LII/1 (1:5000), plot 375, covering an area of 10.034 m2. This property is situated between the villages of Choletria and Nata. It is adjacent to the seasonal river of Xeropotamos. There is access to drinking water and access to electricity about 100m away. Because of the sloping terrain most mobile holiday homes will have goods views across the valley to Nata and furthermore the footprint of the site will be most sympathetic to the surrounding countryside. Photos of the range of mobile homes [to be included] Technical Description of the Site and Site Layout Plan [to include site plan layout produced by land surveyor and any explanation required] RECOMMENDATION The Applicants are fully committed to this proposition and its position in supporting the CTO’s Rural Tourism Plan.