The Cyprus Mail reported last week that the Cypriot Government is planning to discuss legalizing gay weddings for same-sex couples across the island, which is located in the Eastern Mediterranean. Should same-sex marriage become legal in the popular vacation spot, it would be major move toward equality for the country and boost to their travel industry, as foreign couples would likely start to visit the island to get married.

Danny Waine, Marketing Director of UK-based travel company Perfect Gay Honeymoons, is particularly excited about the news, which came via an announcement from Cyprus Interior Ministry Permanent Secretary Lazaros Savvides. “From a tourism point of view this could be the most positive regulatory change that the island could make this century,” Waine stated. “The most important thing is that this proposed change has come about because of a letter written by a Cypriot Citizen, not a government being forced into it just to generate cash.”

Perfect Gay Honeymoons has been organizing Civil Partnerships abroad for British couples across the world since the Civil Partnership Act became law in the UK in December 2005. The company supports the move from the Cyprus Interior Ministry to explore legalizing gay marriage on the Island. Waine explained, “We have been organizing commitment ceremonies in Cyprus since the Civil Partnership Act came into force, and are receiving increasing inquiries from gay and lesbian couples wanting to marry legally on the island. They’ve often been to friend’s weddings in Cyprus or heard about someone that’s married on the island and that’s what they want too. Gay and lesbian couples don’t want to marry in stereotypical gay haunts like Ibiza, Mykonos and Sitges; they dream about marrying in typical wedding destinations such as Cyprus, Mauritius and the Caribbean.”

Cyprus could cash in on the gay wedding market from the UK, Waine said. “Not only would the marriage law be a step in the right direction for equality of gay and lesbian Cypriot’s, it also could open up a massive market from the UK. Providing the residency requirements for gay weddings remain the same as straight couples, Cyprus would become the only country in Europe where gay and lesbian British couples overseas could legally get married.”

Waine continued: “I strongly urge the ministers and diplomats meeting with Dr. Lazaros Savvides to support the change in the law; as well as for the Cyprus Tourism Organization and hoteliers in Cyprus to get behind the movement. We have written to the Cypriot Government and Cyprus Tourism Organization to offer our support to the proposed change; and we believe that hoteliers across the island would view this amendment favorably. Economically the island of Cyprus only stands to benefit, as it will lead to an inevitable increase in weddings taking place on the island, and generating more group business throughout the year.”

Dr Kai Wacker of GayCyprus.org, the gay tourism information resource based in Limassol, agrees with Waine. “The legalization of gay (same sex marriages) in Cyprus would be something not only the Gay Community of the Republic of Cyprus, but also Cyprus Tourism, the Cyprus Hotel and Catering Industries and many more businesses here in the Republic of Cyprus could profit from enormously. We as a company as well as openly gay individuals and couples would strongly support the legalization of Gay or Same-Sex marriages in the Republic Of Cyprus.”

Waine finished, “Over half of the inquiries we receive for gay weddings abroad are for Cyprus, and these are coming in on a daily basis, so there is certainly the demand there. We have so many gay honeymoon couples travel to Cyprus each year and they always rave about the island, the warmth of its people and standard of hotels. This is an ideal opportunity for Cyprus to bring about change for good, and to offset some of the losses it’s endured during the recession. Ultimately it is the island of love, it has fantastic 5* luxury accommodations, spa and wedding facilities, and this should be open to any couple in love.”

Perfect Gay Honeymoons, a member of the Hays Travel Independence Group, was launched shortly after the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act in December 2005 in the UK, offering a high standard of civil partnership abroad and honeymoon services to gay and lesbian couples. Initially, the company offered same-sex couples the opportunity to book luxury honeymoons and to ensure they receive all the frills a honeymoon couple deserve on their special trip away. The company has since introduced its civil partnerships and commitment ceremonies abroad program with an ever-expanding portfolio of locations.

Published Date: 03/08/2010
SECTION: Travel | GENRE: Pet Lover
SOURCE: Cherry Grrl

Category: Travel, TravelTravel Tab, Travel Tab