CyprusVista

A German newspaper report recently published a list of popular places for the British to go on holiday - so their readers can avoid them! The article, in the daily “Bild Zeitung” claims that Ayia Napa in Cyprus and other Mediterranean resorts such as Malia in Crete are full of Brits because of the “drinking, sex and beaches (they) offer.”

However, the newspaper is out of date. This summer, you are just as likely to find a family enjoying the lovely beaches at Ayia Napa, or a retired couple strolling through the town for a leisurely lunch, as bleary-eyed clubbers emerging for breakfast at 12 noon.

Yes, the town is still a fabulous place for clubbing, and that’s where the real change lies in Ayia Napa, in the clubbers themselves. The lager louts and drug-abusing crowd seem to have moved on. In their place are an energetic, thirty-something crowd who want to party during the night, but not so hard that they can’t enjoy all Ayia Napa has to offer during the day, beyond the bars and football screens. And these days, they are more likely to bring their kids.

Not that this change will come as a surprise to the business owners of Ayia Napa. They have already seen their once-quiet Cyprus fishing village evolve into a club capital of the Mediterranean in just a few years. During the 1990s, Ayia Napa was a boom town, where clubbers spent money on enjoying themselves 24/7. On the downside, the younger clubbers who came in their thousands eventually tainted the resort’s reputation with excessive drinking and loutish antics.

As a result, both the police and the Municipality clamped down on antisocial behaviour and other drink-related issues, and it worked - almost too well. As visitor numbers started to fall, so did the tourist income, and the big debate in Ayia Napa now is how to develop the resort for the future.

Ayia Napa is certainly up for the challenge. Already there are plans for an Ayia Napa marina and a golf course, facilities to attract a more mature - and wealthy - tourist. The resort is also aiming to become a year-round destination, making the most of the 300 days of Cyprus sunshine a year, and there is certainly plenty to do during a family holiday in Ayia Napa once the clubbers have gone home.

• Ayia Napa Beaches
The main beach in Ayia Napa is just what you want from a Mediterranean beach; clean sand, watersports, sunloungers, sun umbrellas, and easy access to a cooling drink in the summer. Nissi Beach is the happening beach during the summer, with open air DJ sets, so if you prefer peace and quiet, head for the coves and beaches around Cape Greco, to the east of the town.

• The Monastery of Ayia Napa
The Monastery at Ayia Napa dates from the Venetian occupation of Cyprus in the 16th century, and the 600 year old fig tree in its grounds is proof that whatever happens in the town, some things in Ayia Napa don’t change!

• WaterWorld Ayia Napa
Kids and adults alike will have a great time at WaterWorld, whether hurtling down the Fall of Icarus waterslide at 40kms per hour, or twisting down the pipes of the Quest of Hercules double twist slide. The park has a great sense of fun, as all the attractions are all housed in mock ancient Greek ruins to suit their classical names, including the Midas gift shop!

• Eat the World: Restaurants in Ayia Napa
Ayia Napa has an impressive selection of restaurants serving world food from Japanese cuisine at Sapporo, Mexican favourites at Los Bandidos, and excellent Polynesian green curries at Fiji. Or venture out of the town to the villages of Liopetri, Sotira or Paralimni, where traditional tavernas will fill your table with a magnificent meze, freshly cooked to order.

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