Holiday islands such as Cyprus welcome holidaymakers with open arms, but with increasing environmental awareness many of them are hoping to address any damage done while people visit.

The campaign to get Cyprus greener has started in Paphos, and aimed initially at those taking self catering holidays with Thomas Cook Holidays, who with the Travel Foundation launched the initiative.

A press release recently explained what they were doing and why:

A campaign to reduce plastic waste and help keep Paphos green has been launched by Thomas Cook UK & Ireland in collaboration with sustainable tourism charity, the Travel Foundation and the Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative. This summer, self-caterers enjoying Cyprus holidays with Thomas Cook will be given reusable cloth bags to use instead of plastic bags. Local hotels will also receive advice and guidance on how to minimise plastic waste.

The scheme has been designed to reduce the 2,000-plus tonnes of plastic bags that are used in Cyprus every year. Many of these bags and other plastic items end up in land-fill, where they slowly break down into smaller particles that can then contaminate the soil and waterways. The organisations hope to help protect the environment by reducing the amount of plastic used in the resort. To promote the initiative, those who use the bags when shopping will have the opportunity to enter a draw to win a voucher for £200 off their next Thomas Cook holidays.

Hotel staff and guests will also receive advice on how to reduce plastic waste. The organisations have developed an in-depth plastic waste reduction programme, which will involve approximately eight Cyprus hotels.

Andy Cooper, Director of Government and External Affairs at Thomas Cook, said: “We’re delighted to be working with the Travel Foundation on a great cause which will go some way to protect the island’s environment. With the support and involvement of customers, resort representatives, hoteliers and local businesses, we’re hoping that this campaign will be a huge success.”

Julie Middleton, the Travel Foundation’s Industry Programmes Manager, said: ‘By taking simple actions such as using cloth bags for shopping and reusing plastic bottles holiday makers can help keep Cyprus clean and green. With over 2 million tourists travelling to Cyprus every year, small changes made by individuals can have a significant impact on the environment. Selected supermarkets, hotels and self-catering properties in Paphos are supporting the campaign and we hope that local people will get involved too.’

All very encouraging for those who believe in global warming and want to do their bit for the environment.

For more news and travel information about Cyprus visit yourcyprus.info Independent comments from holidaymakers who are on the island now are available with social media like facebook and myspace

Reuters recently ran an article about how climate change could affect Cyprus. Here’s an extract:

“Climate change is going to affect this region in a relatively strong way, and differently than northern Europe,” said Jos Lelieveld, a professor in atmospheric sciences at the Energy, Environment and Water Research Center at the non-profit Cyprus Institute.

Cyprus has a tourism intake of more than two million each year, attracted by its almost year-round sunshine and stunning beaches. The sector represents about 11 percent of its economy. But its key selling point, the sun, could be a malady if forecasts on changing weather patterns prove to be correct.

“For the tourist sector the summer seasons may become less attractive,” said Lelieveld, who is also a director at the Max Planck Institute for Chemistry in Germany.

To read the full article click here

For a Cyprus weather forecast and holidays in Cyprus visit yourcyprus.info

How many holidays have been ruined by mosquito bites?

Too many most would argue, the sound of a mosquito buzzing round late at night in the bedroom is enough to have most people up and and about trying to track it down, while those who sleep on could wake up the next morning, their remaining holiday spoiled.

Fighting the mosquito has become more difficult over the last decade for two major reasons. First, global warming has led to an increase in the mosquito population.

The second roadblock to eradicating the mosdquito is the public’s decreasing tolerance for the use of pesticides. Reduced pesticide use is a positive thing overall. The United Nations has commisioned several studies on the worldwide impact of pesticide use. Bans on the cosmetic use of pesticides are growing increasingly common all over the world as a result.

The use of pesticides to reduce the mosquito population is a complicated problem. Some pesticides have been associated with illnesses like cancer, birth defects, chronic respiratory problems and other negative health issues. Some pesticides have been proven to cause health problems in humans. Many others remain on suspect lists.

The mosquito, on the other hand, has become more than just a cosmetic nuisance. Mosquitoes have long been some of the biggest culprits in the transmission of disease. They are known to transmit illnesses such as malaria, dengue fever and Yellow fever. One of the latest problems to emerge in North American mosquitoes is the transmission of the West Nile virus.

Humans are not the only ones affected by mosquito borne illnesses. They also affect animals. Various strains of mosquito borne viruses causing equine encephalitis are becoming more common.

Mosquito borne diseases that were once all but eradicated in some countries are beginning to emerge again. This is one reason Cyprus officials began to look into alternative methods for reducing the number of mosquitos on the holiday island. Another reason was a noticeable increase in the number of these insects. The result is a three year study on the island’s mosquito population.

Cyprus is a Mediterranean island, and the weather in Cyprus is conducive to mosquitoes - hot and sunny.

The study, which began in 2005, was a joint effort between local scientists and researchers from Greece and the United States. Together they tested a number of more environmentally friendly methods for targeting the elimination of mosquitoes. Some incorporated the use of pesticides which have little or no negative impact on humans and animals. Other methods saw certain types of natural mosquito predators introduced into key breeding areas.

The three year study yielded some fascinating results. Dragonflies turned out to be fairly effective killers. Other natural predators used included frogs, flies and fish.

Another test used the chemicals Methoprene and Pyriproxyfen. These products inhibit the growth of mosquito larva rather than killing the adult insects. Researchers in Cyprus discovered that these chemicals were effective even at half the recommended dosage.

It appears that so far tourists haven’t abandoned Cyprus as a holiday island because of the mosquito. The allure of sunshine and sandy beaches along with Cypriot culture means holidays in Cyprus are popular. It’s likely there will always be more reasons to visit Cyprus than to stay away. However, tourists on Cyprus who consider the insects vacation invaders may find the problem reduced in years to come.