If today Omodos has evolved -and still evolves -into a much frequented agro-tourism resort, this is admittedly due to the remarkable actions and the close co-operation of the Local Authorities, the Community Council, the Church Committee, the trusteeship of Omodos’s Co-operative Credit Society, the “Friends of Omodos” Association, and the village’s inhabitants and friends.

Very early on, in the 80’s, Omodos turns to its roots, its springs, pursuing its progress and its development in many sectors, including that of agro-tourism. It quickly understood the meaning of agro-tourism and it discovered that it was a new form of tourism, which helps the rural family and promotes Cypriot tradition. During the past few years, agro-tourism started being developed in Omodos by the people who were occupied with the grapevines and had traditional houses, which they turned into tourist quarters and others into souvenir shops, restaurants, and small taverns. In that way it managed to offer to the tourists the possibility of living quietly in nature -for a small period of time -close to the viticulturist and his / her agricultural tasks (pruning, tillage, gathering of grapes, making of wine, etc.), getting to know the village’s manners and customs, its folkloric art and tradition, tasting the traditional cuisine and produce. The inhabitants of Omodos managed to increase their income through utilising traditional quarters and offering viticulture produce that they themselves produced to the tourists, such as “palouze” (must jelly), wine, etc. Also, “arkatena” rolls (crunchy rusks with yeast) and items of local folkloric art, such as the renowned “pipila” (narrow-knit lace) of Omodos.

Furthermore, new families were given the opportunity to remain in the countryside, return to their roots, and find an occupation through keeping souvenir-shops, restaurants, taverns, wineries, tourists quarters, etc.

A person visiting Omodos has the ability to stay in the village in renovated, traditional houses and hostels. Today there are more than 40, fully-furnished apartments with a capacity of 140 beds -previously being storage areas that the viticulturists kept -and which are offered for rent to Cypriots and foreigners throughout the year.
Many souvenir-shops are located along the picturesque alleys and plenty of others surround the village’s vast, paved plaza, the visitor finding products of folkloric art, narrow-knit laces, embroideries, and other items in them.

Moreover, the visitor will see the village’s women, previously of all ages but today mainly elderly, gathering in the sunshine during the winter and in the nicest, shady part of the neighbourhood during the summer, needle in hand, making the famous, traditional narrow-knit lace that anyone can buy so as to decorate his / her furniture and other items. Today Omodos still is one of the most significant centres producing narrow-knit lace. About sixty women are occupied with its production.

Furthermore, it has 14 graphic taverns, restaurants, and coffee-houses that serve breakfast and traditional dishes.

There are four wine-producing Factories and four families are occupied in those. In the picturesque alleys and the plaza, the visitor may come across workshops that manufacture glass (vitreau), copper engravings, and icons.

The visitor can also buy the celebrated “arkatena” rusks, which are made in the five ovens that the village has, as well as aromatic, tasty, sweet wines from the three liqueur stores and wineries.

The future of Agro-tourism in Omodos is bright, because of the many infrastructure projects, the other accommodations / facilities that exist, and the rich cultural heritage that the older generations bequeathed, which we tenaciously try to preserve.

At the same time, the inhabitants of Omodos also take initiatives and have ideas that promote the development of Agro-tourism. By proceeding with Agro-tourism, the development of the village will advance further more. Basically, it could b said that Agro-tourism contributed -and will contribute -to the development and revitalisation of the wine-producing village of Omodos.

Editing of text: Panayiotis Socratous
Secretary of ecclesiastical committee