Hundreds of people came together to celebrate Cyprus’ rich and varied cultural heritage and its natural environment at a village festival on Sunday, May 18! The community of Buyukkonuk/Komi Kebir organized a day of activities focused on village life--past, present and future. The “Once Upon A Time” festival was part of the community’s larger efforts to promote eco-tourism in the Karpas region, where Cyprus’ traditional ways and natural beauty are under threat by modern influences and mass tourism. Visitors enjoyed folk dancing and music; traditional foods; donkey rides; a photography exhibit; demonstrations of traditional bread, cheese, macaroni, carob syrup and sweets making; and several other activities, including the inauguration of hiking and cycling trails that will guide visitors through some of Cyprus’ most breathtaking landscapes.

The festival and the community’s efforts to promote responsible tourism development were supported by USAID through the Economic Development and Growth for Enterprises (EDGE) and Supporting Activities that Value the Environment (SAVE) projects. Like all U.S.-funded programs in Cyprus, EDGE and SAVE are aimed at facilitating reunification of the island, including through encouraging responsible economic growth and sound environmental management.