The Association of Cyprus Travel Agents is par excellence the NGO agency involved in tourism and travel affairs.

In its ranks the association has the overwhelming majority of Cypriot Travel Agents and Tour Operators who represent almost all overseas travel organizations who are cooperating with Cyprus.

ACTA is monitoring all developments, local and worldwide, concerning questions of tourism and travel and is in a position to exercise responsible policy regarding the rational promotion of such issues.

A formal recognition and confirmation of the responsible behaviour of ACTA and of its important role is the fact that it has been named as the issuing Authority for Cypriot Tour Operators.

ACTA has completed an upward progress of almost half a century since its founding in 1954 and during this period it has been recognized as the Organization with vision which worked for the foundationing of Cyprus Tourism in its proper basis.

The vision of the Association for proper foundationing of tourist development was materialized with the establishment of a specialized agency for tourism, the Cyprus Tourism Organization. This first step was followed by developments in the overall course of ACTA with the international enlargement of its links and ties and of its dynamism.

In 1961 the Association joins the United Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA). In 1974 comes the membership of the Cyprus Chamber of Commers and Industry (CCCI) which gives ACTA direct involvement in the decision centers of the business people of Cyprus.

A noteworthy step in the upgrading of the Association was its affiliation to the European Travel Agents’  and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA) in which it plays its own role (ACTA through its General Manager was holding the post of Chairman of the Tourism Committee of ECTAA for two years).

A milestone of ACTA’s history was the move of its offices to the House of Tourism as from 1st February 2006. The House of Tourism is situated in Klokkaris Arcade in Ledra Street in the walled city of Nicosia, thus creating the prerequisites of further development.

A very important announcement:
The The European Travel Agents’  and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA), during its 97th bi annual meeting which was held in Sophia on the 27th and 28th of May 2008, elected Mr. Akis Kelepeshis (immediate past President of ACTA) in its presidency for the period of 2008-2010. ECTAA represents 29 national associations of Travel and Tourist Agents of Europe.

In its press release, ECTAA mentions that “Mr. Kelepeshis is Managing Director of one of the largest tour operators in Cyprus. In 1996 he was elected Secretary General of ACTA, the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents, and subsequently served in ACTA as Vice-President. Mr Kelepeshis served ACTA as President from 2005 to 2008 and now holds the position of the Immediate Past President as a member of ACTAS’ Board of Directors.”.

The new President of ECTAA, Mr. Kelepeshis takes over from Mr. Jan Van Steen, Member of the Board of the Belgian Federation of Tourism Industry, (FIT). Among other issues Mr.Kelepeshis main attention will be directed towards the revision of the EU consumer protection legislations, which is the most important legislation for tour operators as it includes the Package travel Directive.

As ECTAA President, Mr. Kelepeshis said: “The next two years will be very challenging for the industry with the revision of the consumer protection legislations. ECTAA will work closely with the European Commission to ensure that the legislative environment is adapted to the current and future market of package travel. Our priority is to ensure a level-playing field for all businesses operating in the sale of travel services and to ensure that our customers benefit from a high level of protection and quality. ”

Mr. Akis Kelepeshis added that due to the increasing interest by the Mediterranean members of the E.U. member countries, his efforts will also be directed towards the development of Tourism and that he will be actively involved in all relative European programmes being in full cooperation with the European Union and all relevant European bodies.

In ECTAA’s 97th bi annual meeting, Mr. Akis Kelepeshis was escorted by the Director General of the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) Mr. Thasos Katsourides.

ECTAA represents around 80,000 Travel and Tourist businesses with 25 out of its 29 member countries being members of the European Union.

Facts & Figures about ACTA
Statistical Data collected and compiled by ACTA’s Secretariat as at May 2010

Travel/Tourist Agencies licensed by CTO	440 (100%)
Travel/Tourist Agencies ACTA members	310 (70.45%)
ACTA Affiliated Members	32
IATA locations	156 (100%)
IATA locations – ACTA members	127 (81.4%)
IATA locations – volume	100%
IATA locations – ACTA members – volume	90%
Cypriot Tour Operators – All ACTA members	59 (100%)
Circulars Sent to Members (June 2009 – May 2010)	124
Issues of ACTA’S Newspaper “TOURISTIKA NEA” (June 2009 - May 2010)	4