Tourism policy and residents' well-being in Cyprus: Opportunities and challenges for developing an inside-out destination management approach

The paper explores how Cyprus can increase its competitiveness, sustaining its magnitude and attractive attributes, and ensuring residents’ well-being. The study evaluates the suitability of an ‘inside-out’ planning approach to island tourism development. Eleven interviews were conducted with tourism policy-makers and stakeholders complemented by documentary analysis of official policy sources.Findings indicate that Cyprus tourism policy addresses only indirectly residents’ well-being, and therefore a policy re-orientation focusing on local prosperity is needed. It is proposed that an ‘inside-out’ approach stemming from the kind of development that locals want for improving their quality of life can foster islands’ socio-cultural revitalisation. An ‘inside-out’ approach can redirect Cyprus tourism policy to focus on alternative forms of tourism such as rural/special interest tourism. However, to reconfigure its tourism product, Cyprus should remedy the ‘top-down’ and bureaucratic planning processes that create challenges for the sustainable development of tourism. The adoption of an ‘inside-out’ approach can enable‘bottom-up’ decision-making by empowering residents to partake in local communities’ tourism planning intending to improve life quality. Broadly, these conditions need to be further examined within the context of small island destinations in order to find the means for implementing their repositioning/rebranding driven by a local focus aimed at enhancing residents’ wellbeing

The Emergence of ‘Small-scale’ Sport Events in 'Small Island’ Developing States: Towards Creating Sustainable Outcomes for Island Communities

Although academic literature has examined sport events in urban and rural communities, there is limited research on the forces and dynamics that influence the sustainability of sport events in islands. Cyprus represents a small island developing state with an embryonic event industry, which poses the question whether the emergence of new events can contribute to its sustainable development. The purpose of this study is to examine the impacts of two nascent sport events: the “Limassol Marathon” and the “Tour of Cyprus Cycling Challenge,” focusing on their prospects for creating strategic outcomes that can contribute to the sustainability and rejuvenation of Cyprus as a tourism destination. The study employed a triangulation research technique through the application of mixed methods, conducting first semistructured interviews with event organizers, and thereafter a survey examining the perceived experiences of event participants. Findings illustrate the interrelationships of new small-scale events that can amplify their synergistic value by enabling the achievement of multiple purposes. Implications are drawn concerning the synergistic value of small-scale sport events and the strategic processes for creating a range of sustainable event outcomes

Initial assessment and follow-up of a myopic child: A clinical evaluation tool

Myopia comprises the leading cause of visual impairment in childhood, showing a global rapid rise in prevalence over the past years.  Myopia progression has been related with a number of ocular complications potentially resulting in blindness, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataract, and retinal detachment. Etiopathogenesis of this disorder is regarded multifactorial, involving both environmental and genetic components. Near work activities are believed to play a key role in myopic development, owing to the induced hyperopic defocus on the peripheral retina that may result in axial elongation. Other parameters including outdoor exposure, physical activity and digital screen time are also hypothesized to be connected with myopic development. Ocular examination of myopic subjects should include visual acuity assessment, refraction, biometry and choroidal thickness measurements, as well as evaluation of the accommodative functions. We propose a clinical assessment tool, as a useful guide for all eye care professionals examining and treating juvenile myopes

What is the Real Cost of Intraoperative Floppy Iris Syndrome in Cataract Surgery?

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Influence of Intraocular Lens Asphericity and Blue Light Filtering on Visual Outcome, Contrast Sensitivity, and Aberrometry after Uneventful Cataract Extraction

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of asphericity and blue light filter (BLF) of three different intraocular lenses (IOLs) on the visual performance, second- and third-order aberrations (defocus, coma, trefoil), and contrast sensitivity after uneventful cataract surgery. Methods: One hundred and twenty eyes of 60 patients with clinically significant cataract were randomly assigned to receive one of the three IOL types: Bioline Yellow Accurate (aspheric, with BLF, i-medical, Germany), BioAcryl 60125 (spherical, without BLF, Biotech, France), and H65C/N (aspheric, without BLF, PhysIOL, Belgium). Each IOL was implanted in 40 eyes. Complete ophthalmologic examination, functional acuity contrast testing and wavefront analysis were performed 60 days postoperatively. Results: The mean postoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.95 ± 0.08, not differing statistically among the IOL groups (P = 0.83). Mean defocus and coma values did not yield any statistically significant difference through the IOL groups varying from –0.784 to –0.614 μm and 0.129 to 0.198 μm (P = 0.79 and 0.34, respectively). Bioline Yellow Accurate IOL presented less trefoil aberrations, 0.108 ± 0.05 μm, compared to the other two IOL types (BioAcryl [0.206 ± 0.19 μm] and Physiol [0.193 ± 0.17 μm], P < 0.05). Contrast sensitivity values did not differ among the groups under all lighting conditions. Bioline Yellow IOL showed a statistically higher loss of contrast sensitivity (between mesopic and mesopic with glare conditions) compared to the BioAcryl and PhysIOL in 12 and 3 cpd spatial frequencies, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Bioline Yellow IOL indicated lower contrast sensitivity under mesopic conditions when glare was applied but resulted in less trefoil aberrations after uneventful cataract surgery. No further differences were noted in postoperative visual performance among three IOL groups

Herpes Zoster Ophthalmicus: A Devastating Disease Coming Back with Vengeance or Finding Its Nemesis?

Herpes zoster ophthalmicus is a frequent, painful, and debilitating condition caused by the reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus alongside the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. Twenty-five percent of adults will develop the disease during their lifetime with the risk increasing to one in two over the age of 50. Herpes zoster ophthalmicus presents with a plethora of ocular manifestations ranging from the characteristic rash in the distribution of the ophthalmic branch of the fifth cranial nerve to more severe keratouveitis, disciform keratitis, and even retinal necrosis. Up to 20% of affected patients develop post-herpetic neuralgia which can persist for years after the acute episode, resulting in potentially devastating consequences for the patient’s social, financial, and professional circumstances, as well as their quality of life and daily activities. Shingles prevention studies indicated that the herpes zoster vaccine markedly reduces the burden of the disease, as well as the incidence of both infection and post-herpetic neuralgia. Here we review the vaccinations available for herpes zoster, the reasons behind their limited adoption so far, as well as the future perspectives and challenges associated with this debilitating disease in the era of herpes zoster vaccination and coronavirus disease pandemic

Towards reviving post-Olympic Athens as a cultural destination

This paper examines the effects of global change on the status and qualities of the Greek national capital, Athens, focusing on how they affect the development of cultural tourism in the city. Although Athens constituted one of the most significant destinations for Greek tourism in the past, in recent years it started to weaken. Athens is characterised by a series of problems, among them are the degradation of its environment and quality of life and traffic congestion. However, in terms of tourism development, the Olympic Games helped in re-imaging the city and upgrading its infrastructure. This study based on semi-structured interviews with top officials reveals how global change has affected Athens’ socio-cultural/economic status, identity and image. Despite the tourism policy/planning responses to global changes, Athens’ tourism continues to decline leaving unexplored potential such as its rich cultural heritage, new multicultural identity and the New Acropolis Museum. The paper suggests that cultural elements of capital cities must be multidimensional including a variety of attractions and amenities. The use of cultural heritage assets needs to be in line with global developments in order for cities to effectively leverage heritage for cultural tourism