The Cyprus Tourism Organisation predicts that 2017 will be a record-breaking year with over three per cent year-on-year increase in visitors recorded from January to March.

Coinciding with the announcement of these figures, the CTO has appointed Rooster PR to manage its press office and deliver a series of creative campaigns following a competitive pitch.

Rooster has been briefed to raise awareness of Cyprus as a safe, accessible destination with the perfect year-round climate to support the country’s strong growth in tourism.

The agency will be responsible for all business-to-business and business-to-consumer, pro-active and re-active media enquiries.

This will include developing and implementing an effective PR plan, news generation, press trip co-ordination and crisis management as well as managing the destination’s social media channels.

In addition to running Cyprus’ day-to-day press office, the Rooster team will implement two large-scale creative events aimed at generating widespread press awareness of the destination’s tourism offering.

Details of the first event, which is due to take place in the second half of 2017, will be announced shortly.

Cyprus received 99,503 UK visitors from January to March 2017 – a 3.6 per cent increase compared to the 96,009 UK visitors to Cyprus from the same period in 2016.

This year is expected to be Cyprus’ biggest year yet for tourism, following an historic 3.2 million arrivals in 2016.

The UK is the top market to Cyprus with more than 40 per cent of total arrivals.

Orestis Rossides, UK director of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, said: “Visitor figures for 2017 are looking positive and this upward trend is only set to continue.

“Many travellers are already turning to Cyprus for its year-round sunshine, stunning landscapes, world-class spas and range of activities; and with Rooster’s help, we’ll be able to entice many more.

“The team has hit the ground running already and we’re looking forward to working closely with them on some exciting campaigns to further maximise awareness of, and bookings to, Cyprus.”