I attended a meeting last week regarding Larnaca's unique selling points, where the attendees argued which of them was the absolute defining feature of the region – not because we don't have any, but because we have so many...
For some people, that may be hard to believe! It is difficult to see the appeal of your hometown objectively, especially when it is clouded by the daily grind, bills to pay, bureaucracy, frustration at the things that are not working as they should, and a lack of time to enjoy the nicer elements.
So, what do you believe separates Larnaca from other towns on the island, or other destinations even? We are actually quite a unique destination, and if that has you rolling your eyes in disbelief too, let me tell you why!
Firstly, we are the most ancient city on the island, and we have the culture to prove it. This 'ancient identity' has been retained, whilst we have also modernised. Whilst other areas of the island might have lost their original character due to their attempts to lure tourists, over-development and the like, 'we' haven't.
Secondly, despite being a popular tourist destination, we have not sold out and become a tourist resort, and this is very significant. In fact, most repeat visitors to the region come to Larnaca for this very reason. They feel that they can mingle with the locals and enjoy the town, its restaurants, nightlife, attractions and shops without being sold a tacky, 'tourist only' experience of venues geared towards visitors. What they get is authentic and no different to what we locals enjoy, whereas in certain other towns, there is a very 'you are a tourist here' feel and areas to cater for it. One of the reasons might actually be something we bemoan; our lack of big hotel resorts. Whatever it is, I hope we do not lose this characteristic.
Thirdly, Larnaca is the most compact region of the island. And by compact, I do not mean 'small', but rather, a place where you can find everything within a short or reasonable distance. Our promenades do not stretch for miles with gaps in between, our town centre is close to our coastal areas, as are our cultural and leisure attractions, and even our rural areas offer something different in just a short proximity.
Fourthly, we are a family-friendly region, yet, we are also great for the hip and beautiful! There are some areas of the island that are known for being better for the hard partiers, and there are some that are considered better for older visitors or families. We have it all! I believe this is linked with the point about being an authentic place and not a tacky tourist destination. Instead of trying to sell ourselves to one demographic of visitor by selling out, we are local life at its best, and if people want to come and experience it as we do, they are welcome to, but we don't feel the need to beg by changing our identity for them.
There are many more reasons why Larnaca is unique – we are the most central part of the island, and therefore a gateway to the rest of Cyprus, we are diverse, we are friendly (yes we are!) and, and, and!
So, if the recent crisis and the daily struggles we all face have started to get you down, it is good to remember that there are much worse places to live. Of course, that is not to say that Larnaca is the best place in the universe where streets are paved in gold, but the gold is there – in sunshine and sand, but most of all in the hearts of its people.
First appeared in The Cyprus Weekly, 10/04/15
