The owners of the recreation centers of the free province of Famagusta are satisfied since the Christmas and New Year period, according to the President of the Association of Famagusta Recreation Centers, Mr. Vasos Xydias.
Speaking to the Famagusta News, Mr. Xydias said that "out of the 15% of businesses that are open at this time, leisure centers have done quite well because the options that people have in Famagusta province are limited due to seasonality."
Mr. Xydias stated that there were no last-minute cancellations in the province of Famagusta as the coronavirus did not affect the bookings either since many citizens rushed to make their bookings at the last minute.
According to Mr. Vasos Xydias, compared to last year in the free province of Famagusta, the traffic was reduced because Cypriots chose to travel abroad for the holiday season, stressing that the number of tourists in the leisure centers was only 5%.
Mr. Xydias highlighted the problem of seasonality that plagues the free area of Famagusta.
During this winter season, 85% of businesses are closed because they only work in the summer season with the arrival of tourists.
Recreation centers wait the whole winter to work exclusively and only ten days during the holiday season, with the result that businesses cannot cope and survive financially, he added.
Mr. Xydias emphasized that "the reason businesses continue to be open during the winter season is to keep their staff for the next tourist season and not to make ends meet. Unfortunately, they leave us at the mercy of God."