eu council — eu council — Cyprus is gearing up for an influx of around 20,000 visitors during its six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union, as announced by President Nikos Christodoulides on Wednesday.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
- The exhibition also serves as a warm welcome to the thousands of visitors expected in Cyprus for the EU Presidency, blending the past with the present in a unique celebration of culture.
The anticipated visitors will arrive from various EU member states as well as other countries, marking a significant period for the island nation. President Christodoulides stated that this forecast is based on meticulous official planning for the upcoming six months.
Photo: cyprus-mail.com
Highlighting a trend of growth, the President noted that both Larnaca and Paphos airports achieved historic arrival records last year, with expectations for continued success this year. He attributed this surge in arrivals to the strong cooperation between the government and Hermes Airports, which oversees the management of the two key airports.
“I want to publicly thank and congratulate Hermes Airports,” President Christodoulides remarked, acknowledging their role in achieving these record numbers. “Both last year and this year, we are seeing historic records in arrivals at our two airports, and this is also the result of close cooperation with the government.”
The President made these comments while inaugurating the exhibition titled “Carte Postale. EU journey through the lens of time” at Larnaca airport, a collaboration with Hermes Airports. This exhibition features around 250 postcards from the past century, showcasing the rich history and culture of Cyprus alongside other EU member states.
Curated from the collection of the late Antonis Hadjipanayis, a passionate deltiologist, the exhibition offers a visual journey into the early 20th century. The collection was brought to life by Hadjipanayis’ son, journalist Panicos Hadjipanayis. President Christodoulides shared the story of Antonis Hadjipanayis, a refugee from the village of Assia, who began his collection at a young age after being displaced in 1974.
“The postcards offer a glimpse into a time when daily life and communication were very different,” the President said, reflecting on how correspondence used to be a personal, hand-delivered experience.
Despite the modern shift away from sending postcards, President Christodoulides emphasised their enduring charm. “It is something worth remembering for older generations and discovering for younger ones,” he added.
The exhibition also serves as a warm welcome to the thousands of visitors expected in Cyprus for the EU Presidency, blending the past with the present in a unique celebration of culture.
In closing, President Christodoulides congratulated Hermes Airports for their initiative in showcasing this rare material and expressed gratitude to Panicos Hadjipanayis and his family for their efforts in bringing the exhibition to life.
