Tennis star signs up to promote homeland

Tuesday March 25th , 2008

Tennis star Marcos Baghdatis has signed up to promote Cyprus as a holiday destination across the world.

The Wimbledon semi-finalist will appear in a multimedia advertising campaign, which will encompass outlets such as newspapers, glossy magazines and television channels.

Billboards and posters will also be used as part of the initiative, which has been organised by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation.

It is hoped that by using a face that is well-known internationally, more people will be encouraged to consider the island as a holiday destination.

Baghdatis will act as an ambassador for the country, which attracted 1.2 million holidaymakers from the UK last year.

If the scheme is successful, it may have a knock-on effect on the island's investment potential, as its rental market will be boosted by increased tourism.

According to the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, houses prices on the island went up by 15 per cent last year.