Tourist yachts at local marina 'to pay the same as residents'

Friday February 20th , 2009

Visitors who berth their yachts at the Larnaca marina will soon pay the same rates as residents, it has been reported.

According to the Cyprus Mail, foreign yachtsmen were previously charged an annual rate of 119 euros (£105) per metre to berth, compared with 107 euros for Cypriots.

However, the system had led to complaints of discrimination and even threats of legal action against the government.

The new rate, applying to all, will be 135 euros per metre and is to be put to the vote next week.

Glafcos Kariolou, nautical tourism officer for the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, told the newspaper the reason for the discrepancy in fees between Cypriots and foreign nationals.

"When the marina first opened in 1977, it was deemed unfair that Cypriots be charged the same, since it is the Cypriot taxpayer who paid for its construction," he said.

Meanwhile, the Cypriot government has approved plans to build several new golf courses across the country, reports Holiday Lettings.
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