The fullness reached 80% in August in the hotels of the free province of Famagusta, that is, Ayia Napa and Protaras, Doros Takkas, President of PASYXE Famagusta, told KYPE.
He added that "taking into account that Cyprus is in deep red in terms of Covid-19, the fact that we currently have so much tourism in the free province of Famagusta, should be considered a small miracle. Specifically, the area of Ayia Napa and Protaras, especially after the first week of August, when tourism was boosted by Cypriot vacationers, the occupancy of hotels reaches and exceeds 80% ".
He stated that "the Russian market is still first with a difference in the occupancy of hotels and this is the first and main reason that it seems that the free province of Famagusta is doing better, compared to other areas of Cyprus. "Other markets are moving lower, as we expected a better arrival rate from the UK market, but we do not despair, expecting that they may move more in the next two months."
Regarding the other markets, Mr. Takkas said that "currently there are tourists from Central Europe, ie Poland, Germany and Switzerland. However, there is optimism that the planning of travel agents from Russia continues in both September and October ".
He explained that "flights from Russia have already been planned for these two months, however, we can not" look "far ahead, since the reservations are made literally at the last minute, due to the effects that the Delta mutation has had throughout Europe. coronavirus. "But it is clear that tour operators from Russia will continue flying in the coming months, while some are even interested in the first week of November."
Answering a relevant question, Mr. Takkas said that "visitors from Russia have always been in the area of the free province of Famagusta, since traditionally 8 out of 10 Russians ended up in Ayia Napa and Protaras, preferring to swim on the beaches and various features offered by the area. that is, nightlife and walking ".
To another question, the President of PASYXE Famagusta answered that "since the beginning of April, when tourists from Russia started visiting Cyprus, we had predicted that this would be the first market for our island and it seems clear that this is a reality. "Last year the biggest blow from the coronavirus pandemic was suffered by the free province of Famagusta, because airlines from Russia were not allowed to operate flights to Cyprus at all."
He also noted that "we do not know what the situation of the tourism industry in Cyprus would be this year and especially in Ayia Napa and Protaras, if there were no Russian tourists. We estimate that the bookings of foreign tourists in our region are very good, despite the fact that in addition to Turkey, this year we have a second very strong competitor, which is Egypt, which has "opened" since August 9 and offers tourist packages at much lower prices than Cyprus ".
Mr. Takkas also referred to the big problem that the tourism industry is facing this year, not only in the free province of Famagusta but also in the whole of Cyprus, which is nothing more than "the huge lack of staff that creates unimaginable problems. This is a very serious issue that the competent bodies will have to deal with one day. "