subject: Butt Out On Your Cyprus Holiday: One More Eu Country Bans Public Smoking [print this page] Thinking of making a trip to Cyprus? You'll have lots of activities to choose from on your Cyprus holiday, but smoking indoors won't be one of them.
Cyprus became one of the last European Union countries to jump on the no-smoking bandwagon this year. Restaurant and store patrons have been unable to light up since January 1 of this year. The ban on smoking in public areas includes employees inside private workplaces.
Cyprus has actually had a public smoking ban on the books since 2002. However, the law had loopholes and was rarely fully enforced. This new ban, say lawmakers, will have no loopholes. It will be enforced and violators (smokers and business owners who permit on-premises smoking) will be prosecuted.
Part of the lack of enthusiasm for enforcing the old smoking ban resulted from pressure exerted by business owners. Bar and night club owners in particular worried the smoking ban would be bad for business. Tourists on Cyprus holidays, they also argued, would balk at the law, leading to reduced tourism.
However, an examination of other countries, both those in the EU and abroad, is revealing. Most countries with strict no-public-smoking rules have not noticed any drop in tourism because of the ban. Cyprus holiday makers will probably be no different.
The recent 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, should serve as a positive example of the public's embracing of public smoking bans. Vancouver has been smoke-free for several years. Visitors to the Olympics from all over the world seemed to accept the ban as not only normal, but socially correct. Business owners heard virtually no complaints from tourists.
Cyprus officials cite the alarming results of a nicotine study as the major reason for the new ban. The study showed that an astounding 97 percent of children in Cyprus show evidence of metabolized nicotine in their bodies. Children from smoke-free homes were not immune: a full 94 percent of them also had metabolized nicotine in their systems.
Most industrialized countries, Cyprus included, have far fewer numbers of smokers than non-smoking citizens. Less than a third of the residents of this island country regularly light up. Yet business owners, particularly bar and club owners, still feel they are being unduly pressured and worry about lost profits.
It will take some time to see whether Cyprus holiday makers object to the new law by choosing to vacation elsewhere. Owners of businesses that cater to tourists are anxious but hopeful.
The island, with its balmy climate and blue-green seas, relies heavily on tourism to drive its economy. It has a strong GDP per capita despite having fewer than one-million permanent residents. A significant portion of this income can be attributed to tourism.
Besides sun and surf, the island has numerous sites and cultural experiences to offer those looking for a Cyprus holiday. The island attracts millions of international visitors every year.
It's home to ancient archeological ruins, cultural events, sports teams, natural wonders and shops. Cyprus holiday makers can enjoy a myriad of activities, both on land and in, on or under the water.
Cyprus tourism numbers have dropped over the last several years. The world economic crisis has been largely blamed. Tourist-oriented businesses fear that the new smoking ban will be just one more strike against them.
The impact, say officials, will be negligible, if one can judge by looking at other tourism-driven countries with smoking bans. Tourists seeking a Cyprus holiday will still find much to love about the island.
Perhaps being forced to go outdoors to light up will be a good thing for tourism. It may help smoking tourists get a new, close-up appreciation of some of the world's best outdoor scenery.
