THE OPEN AIR FACTORY CONCEPT WITHIN THE PAFOS 2017 EU CAPITAL OF CULTURE

Pafos was selected (ECoC 2017) as an outsider and smallest city of ECoC. There was a need to enhance the image of the city of Pafos in the eyes of the inhabitants, to breathe new life into a city's/region’s culture, boost cultural tourism, regenerate the city, highlight the richness and diversity of cultures in Europe. The central concept "Open Air Factory" was developed and implemented based on a tradition spanning thousands of years when culture was enacted out in the open air and on the acknowledgement that there is a necessity for a new openness in our way of thinking, living and acting so that we may re-connect spaces and people in our region. The OAF succeed a wider outreach into all parts of the region and community, mass exposure for the Pafos2017 activities and shared spaces open to communication and collaboration. The concept was not just about the openness of space; it was about tolerance, acceptance, encouragement and inclusion of different cultures, ideas and beliefs. The main stakeholders of the practice where the 4 Municipalities of Pafos, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Regional Board of Tourism, Hotels Association, the Union of Communities, Community Involvement, Groups of Volunteers, Local schools and businesses. Beneficiaries were the foreign and local residents, business, local and foreign visitors. The ECoC benefits the tourism sector that increased tourism demand, visitor satisfaction and legacy in terms of cultural venues.