63 years of professionalism, consistency and reliability

Salamis continues to forge its own history, providing high quality services, with professionalism, reliability, responsibility and consistency. It has successfully reached 63 years of active involvement in the business and economic chapters of the country. It was launched in 1959 by an ambitious young entrepreneur, Vassos G. Chatzitheodosiou. At just 23, he founded a a pioneering company for its time, in Famagusta. Today it has grown into an organisation with offices in Cyprus and Piraeus, providing a comprehensive range of services, adapted to specialised market needs. They include inbound and outbound tourism, shipping and transportation, freight management, sea, air, road, shipping agencies, customs clearance and oil and gas logistics services.

The Salamis story, step by step

1959
Salamis Tours is founded in Famagusta by Vassos G. Chatzitheodosiou, with the object of providing customs clearance, transport, shipping agency services, insurance and student trips from Cyprus to Greece. The vision of its founder was for the company to further strengthen the close national and historical ties between the two countries. In this context, he chose the name Salamis, from the ancient Cypriot city of Salamis, which took its its name from the island of Salamis in Greece, home of its founder Teykros.

1970
The company expands its activities to pilgrimage tourism in the Holy Land, while registering ships of many Greek companies with the Cypriot flag.

1971
The company is a leader in inbound tourism, bringing tourists from Scandinavian and German-speaking countries.

1974
The Turkish invasion displaces the company from its home city. Salamis is forced to move its headquarters to Limassol, where it’s still based today.

Through the creative initiatives and meticulous, methodical moves of its founder, the company re-activates quickly. Customs clearance, insurance, ship agencies, registration of ships with the Cypriot flag, travel packages, representation of shipping lines for the transport of passengers and goods, are now organised and provided by the company’s offices in Limassol.

During this time, Vassos G. Chatzitheodosiou also undertakes personal initiatives for the recovery of incoming tourism to Cyprus. Through a series of actions and contacts both in Cyprus and abroad, he manages to convince travel agencies and puts Cyprus back on the international tourist map.

1978
In guaranteeing the best possible service, the company acquires the first privately owned buses, always maintaining a human face and authentic Cypriot hospitality.

1987
Salamis launches its new coastal headquarters, its very own home, in Limassol. Salamis House, a modern and functional building.

1993
The company dynamically goes into the shipping sector and acquires the first privately owned ship, connecting Cyprus by ferry with Greece and neighbouring countries. In this context, it expands to Greece, establishing offices in Piraeus.

1998

Salamis is registered as one of the first members of the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE), marking the beginning of a new era.

2017
The company further expands its activities and promotes a modern corporate identity, highlighting corporate social responsibility.

2020
The Board of Directors of Salamis Tours (Holdings) Public Ltd appointed Elena V. Hatzitheodosiou as Managing Director.

2021

Salamis moves to purchase of a new RO / RO ferry. The ship with a total capacity of 21,224 tons is registered in Cyprus and is renamed Ro / Ro Vassilios in memory of  founder Vassos G. Chatzitheodosiou.

2022
The company announces the sale of the “Salamis Filoxenia” cruise ship. In a relevant press release, it notes that in due course ‘it will evaluate all the parameters regarding the possibility of purchasing a new cruise ship”.

Elena V. Chatzitheodosiou

Elena V. Chatzitheodosiou, the founder’s daughter, has held the position of CEO since 2020. Ms. Hatzitheodosiou has been a senior executive of Salamis Tours (Holdings) Public Ltd since September 1994.

Anthropocentric approach

The Salamis Organization distinguishes itself on a human-centered approach. As the company tells us, ‘beyond continued hospitality to our guests, we embrace staff, partners and customers with the same warmth’. For over 60 years we have honoured the people we work with, promoted Cyprus and significantly contributed to the country’s economy and culture’.

Professionalism

Salamis has always forged its own history with the same professionalism, consistency and reliability, providing high quality services and maintaining the high ethical standards established by its founder.

Guided by history, Salamis sails on

The company, as noted, “with the legacy of its founder, its deep roots in Cypriot society and timeless values, sails ahead. Equipment modernisation, the quality of services and human relations remain its fundamental priorities “.

Salamis was built on a traditional ‘word of honour’, as a guiding principle of the past and continues to raise the bar, through the sheer determination and confidence of its long-term successful course “.

Historic values guide the future

At Salamis, “we keep the values of the past and adapt to the needs of the future”, notes CEO Elena V. Hatzitheodosiou.

What distinguishes the Organization is “human approach, respect for partners, quality, reliability and love of country’.

What’s it like heading such an historic company?

Initially, there is great responsibility towards staff and a reassurance that the company continues to work with due diligence and reliability. It is also an equally great responsibility towards our partners and the quality of services provided.

What does the history bring to present and future?

We keep the values of the past and adapt to the needs of the future.

What determined the organisation’s DNA?

Human approach, respect for partners, quality, reliability and love of country.

What stands out through this history?

How the company rebuilt following the Turkish invasion through sheer hard work, determination and the right decisions, re-establishing itself from scratch.

Memories

The loss of my father, company founder.

What sets Salamis apart from competitors?

Responsibility, reliability, quality and human approach.

How does corporate social responsibility translate into action in your company?

Salamis attaches great importance to corporate social responsibility. Often without visibility and PR noise. Giving to your fellow man without expecting anything in return is the greatest blessing.

We are facing a tough situation in Cyprus. As the economy is still recovering from the 2013 crisis and covid, the Ukraine war is creating further complications. How do you see the future?

It’s a tragic situation. Innocent lives are being lost, people are being uprooted from their homes. The economic outlook is bleak and international relations will never be the same as the chasm between Russia and the West grows. As a small country, Cyprus is in an area always depending on third parties.

Vassos G. Chatzitheodosiou, a formidable pioneer

Vassos G. Chatzitheodosiou was born on New Year’s Eve of 1936 in the Famagusta community of Stylloi. After graduating from high school, he started working at the Ionian Bank. He quickly turned away from such a future however, determined to realise his own vision.

He was just 23 when he launched a small business that was involved with customs, transportation, shipping agencies, insurance and student trips.

He named it “Salamis”, home of Teykros, who founded the kingdom of Salamis in Cyprus. He organized the first student excursions to Greece, followed by pilgrimages to the Holy Land and the promotion of inbound tourism from Scandinavia and German-speaking countries.

The Turkish invasion dealt a severe blow to Salamis, which relocated to Limassol, where it’s still based today. Vassos G. Chatzitheodosiou has to start from scratch and makes a significant contribution to the massive post war effort of restoring tourism and the Cyprus economy as a whole.

In later years, Salamis recorded an upward trend: In 1990 it went into shipping with the first privately owned ships, while in 1995 it expanded to international road transport, import and export trade.

It’s always been a pioneer, providing a comprehensive range of services in travel, tourism, cruise, shipping, ship management, ship agency, road transport, logistics, customs clearance and transportation.

In 1991-1992 Chatzitheodosiou served as Honorary Consul of Czechoslovakia and from 1 January 1993 to 2016 Consul General of Slovakia.

He was a prominent member of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Association of Travel Agents of Cyprus, as well as other professional organizations.

His contribution was awarded by the Cyprus Tourism Organization (CTO) and many other relevant bodies. In December 2018 he was presented with an CCCI (Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry) award, in the shipping category.

In early 2019, the Salamis founder’s health took a turn for the worse, so he handed over the reins to the new generation.

The Founder and President of Salamis Vassos Georgios Chatzitheodosiou, passed away on 30/09/2019 at the age of 83.

He was a tireless pioneer in the development of the tourism industry, shipping, as well as trade between Cyprus and Greece. He was a dedicated, devoted man, faithful to the cause of promoting his country, right to the end.