Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy meets with Limassol Mayor and Municipal Council

The Municipality of Limassol breaks new ground in Technology and Digital policy, said the deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Kyriakos Kokkinos, who met today with the Mayor, Nicos Nicolaides, on the occasion of the introduction of virtual interactive tours for six municipal cultural institutions. He also stated that the Deputy Ministry and Limassol Municipality have agreed to a cooperation plan as to speed up the implementation of various initiatives developed by the Municipality and which aim at better serving the citizen through the use of technology. To this end, he said, European and national funds will be used. The Deputy Minister congratulated the Municipality for the new technology used for the virtual tours and praised the dynamism it demonstrates both in terms of serving the citizen and in matters of innovation.  

For his part, the Mayor of Limassol, Nicos Nicolaides, stated that the Municipality is working out a comprehensive strategy of innovation and digital policy and that it has set very high in its priorities the need to adopt new innovative technologies in its operation and communication with the citizen, in order to upgrade, to operate more efficiently and to serve citizens more effectively.  

The Mayor also expressed his satisfaction that the Deputy Minister shares the view that digital reform and innovation in our country should be promoted through the cooperation of the competent ministry with Local Government, explaining that Town Halls and communities are now closer to the citizens in terms of their service. He also pointed out that in recent years, the Municipal Authority has invested in innovation, upgrading its digital infrastructure through the following actions: new website, call centre, online payments, “Dimotis Lemesou” mobile app, smart stops (in collaboration with the Limassol Tourism Development & Promotion Company), parking management system, smart street lighting, 3D virtual interactive tours of six municipal cultural institutions.

In addition to the above actions, the co-financed project “Innovation Centre” will be carried out in collaboration with the CUT and other organisations with Merchant Shipping on the front burner. Other actions included in the project consist of the waste management system, recycling, digitization and unification of the municipality’s processes and the integrated online service of the citizen.

3D virtual interactive tours of cultural institutions

At the end of the meeting and in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Innovation, Athinodoros Mentzis, CEO of duooVision, made a presentation on the 3D virtual interactive tours of the following municipal cultural institutions:

1.      Pattihio Historical Archive and Studies Centre

2.      Pattihio Municipal Theatre

3.      Municipal University Library

4.      Panos Solomonides Municipal Cultural Centre and Theatre Museum

5.      Folk Art Museum

6.      Municipal Centre of Arts – Papadakis Warehouses

The project, which was developed following a decision taken by the Municipal Council, provides the digital user with the opportunity to experience 3D Virtual Tours and photography/ video services of the cultural institutions.  The user can digitally admire the history and culture of Limassol by virtually touring the sites as well as to collect information about the exhibits. This service is accessible by any smart phone, tablet and computer device, with no software being necessary.  

The 3D Virtual Tours are available on smart phones and other mobile devices and can be accessed from the website of the Limassol Municipality, the websites of the cultural institutions and the Points of Interest section of the Municipality’s mobile app.