CYPRUS: Hoteliers see a tougher year for Cyprus tourism

Cyprus tourism is in for a bumpy ride this year, according to hoteliers who warn that stakeholders should focus on retaining record tourist arrivals recorded in 2018 and 2017.

Haris Loizides, the President of the Cyprus Hotel Association (PASYXE) noted that Cyprus will be faced with significant challenges such as Brexit, intense competition from cheaper destinations Turkey, Egypt and other countries in the region which are subsidizing airlines to facilitate the tourist flow.

"Current estimates show that 2019 will be a difficult year. We will be happy if we manage to maintain the 2018 and 2017 figures. There is uncertainty regarding the English market due to Brexit, but we continue our efforts to build up other markets mainly in Central Europe, Scandinavia and some in the Middle East,” said Loizides.

“It still not clear where we stand with the Russian market – some information says it will perform well, other information says it will stagnate," he added.

Brexit could affect tourists coming from the island’s biggest market Britain while Russia is the second largest source of tourist for Cyprus.

Loizides added that the tourist flow to the island will definitely not continue to grow, as 2017 and 2018 saw figures rocketing to almost 4 million while previously 2.5 million tourists were visiting the island on a yearly basis.

The President of PASYXE, said that it is somewhat difficult during this period to identify what the future holds for the industry “stakeholders await the International Tourism and Trade Fair in Berlin in March where things will become clear and we will have more information”.

Commenting on the current period, Loizides said that "there is a sufficient occupancy to keep the hotels open. The extension of the season seems to have helped as most hotels will open from March instead of April or May".