The prospects for the hotel and tourism industry are ominous due to the coronavirus pandemic, Doros Takkas, President of the Pancyprian Hoteliers Association (PASYXE) of Famagusta, told KYPE.
See the statements of the President of PASYXE Famagusta:
Mr. Takkas said that recently “at the request of a Russian travel agent, a video was made about the market there, which presents the good climate prevailing in Cyprus. In fact, the video contains scenes from hotels and beaches, while the message was sent to the travel agencies that the situation in Cyprus is very good, that the weather conditions are good, that the tourism industry is preparing for the new tourist season and that we hope to have back to our island, the Russian tourists, as soon as the conditions allow ".
He added that he talked to the three major Russian travel agents "in order to codify their own assessment of the situation on our island, due to the coronavirus pandemic and how they evaluate tourism from their country. "Unfortunately, they do not see things very well, because they believe that the government will not allow citizens to travel abroad."
Regarding the British market, Mr. Takkas said that "everyone knows the bad situation that prevails in the country due to the coronavirus. However, we expect to see whether the government of Boris Johnson will take any other measures, including not traveling abroad, in an attempt, albeit slowly, to limit the spread of the new virus that plagues all countries of the world.
Asked about what is happening in the free area of Famagusta, he replied that “hotels and all businesses related to tourism are preparing for the new tourist season. More specifically, the hoteliers are ready to open within 15-20 days from the day when the green light will be given for the resumption of flights ", he said and added that" we expect to see what will happen with the start of flights to and from Cyprus, with which countries we will have an air connection, which protocols should be observed regarding safety and health issues and other issues related to the current situation ".
In another question, the President of PASYXE Famagusta said that “every day there are discussions and exchanges of views, via the internet, with all those involved in the hotel and tourism industry in general about what is estimated to happen with the new season. However, everyone realizes that most travel agents are more afraid of what will happen in their own countries and not in Cyprus ".
Specifically, he explained “in Britain and Russia, which constitute 75% of the tourist flow to Cyprus, this very difficult situation prevails that we monitor every day, in Germany, another important market for our island, there is a setback, while the Scandinavian countries they are also not doing well, as they have now started taking preventive measures for the coronavirus. "In the beginning it was estimated that the situation in the Nordic countries was good, but today we see that on the contrary it is very bad."
According to Mr. Takkas, “given the data that prevail today in several countries of the world and especially in Europe, the market from which Cyprus can draw tourism is extremely limited. The prospects are ominous for the whole world and especially for the hotel and tourism industry ".
He added that "another big problem facing the tourism industry is the staff which, as things stand, will not only not work this year but possibly many people will also lead to unemployment."
Regarding the free area of Famagusta, the President of PASYXE noted that “if the hoteliers are given the opportunity to open even with a loss, we will move forward, even if we manage to have tourism for only 2-3 months, to give life to our area. However, precisely because the free province of Famagusta is exclusively tourist, it is extremely difficult to open all the hotels even with a limited number of tourists, while it is estimated that the tourism industry will suffer a great blow ".
Asked about the issue of domestic tourism, Mr. Takkas replied that "it is important but not so much that it manages to support the tourism industry. Domestic tourism does not exceed 3-4%, since many Cypriots have holiday homes in coastal cities and in the mountains and with the current situation, it will be difficult for them to go to hotels for their holidays ".
Famagusta.News / With information from KYPE