The Pancyprian Association of Hoteliers (PASYXE) of Famagusta places hopes in the global vaccination for an increase of the tourist traffic in Cyprus in 2021.
As the President of PASYXE Famagusta Doros Takkas stated in KYPE, "the hoteliers and all the tourist operators in the free province of Famagusta but also in the whole of Cyprus are waiting and watching the developments that are happening worldwide on the front of the coronavirus pandemic. "What everyone is seeing is that we are going through a dead and uncertain period, since it seems that all the plans for the new tourist season are based on the progress of vaccinations."
After stating that "no one still knows what will be born" he noted that "hoteliers estimate that the first six months of 2021 should be considered almost lost tourist because it does not seem to move anything, neither for reservations" nor the travel agents with in turn, expect developments. "The situation is not the best, but there is hope that things, in terms of vaccinations, will move quickly, so that the psychology of the people will rise and he will start thinking and organizing his holidays," he said.
Answering a relevant question, Mr. Takkas said that "the British market has entered a large and extensive lockdown, currently having other priorities than the holidays. "As for Russia, which is the second largest market for Cyprus, it is in about the same situation, so we expect the developments, which we hope will not be delayed, so that there will be some tourist traffic, at least in the second half of 2021." .
He also noted that "this year can not be like 2020, since things in the field of coronavirus are better, there are vaccines and in several countries vaccination has begun, while everyone has more knowledge about the virus. At the same time, we know that the plans of the Ministry of Tourism and Savvas Perdios himself are oriented towards the search for ways in order to get the best out of this difficult year ".
According to Mr. Takkas, "last year was disastrous for the tourism sector. Cyprus had the worst performance worldwide in 2020 in tourist arrivals. While most tourist destinations managed to reach about 30-35%, the free area of Famagusta did not even reach 10% of the arrivals in 2019 ".
He also said that "there is enough ground to cover, we do not expect to have a fantastic year, but anything over 50% of arrivals, something that is possible if the tourist season starts in June and we move on until November, will be good. "We all know that things in the tourism sector, due to the coronavirus pandemic, will need years to be fixed, it is estimated that they may improve by 2023."
However, he continued "even if things improve then on the coronavirus front, due to the intense competition that will exist from different countries, it will inevitably lead prices in the hotel sector and not only, to the Tartars. "Unfortunately, the only option available to deal with the pandemic is rapid vaccination, which unfortunately moves slowly, as only one vaccine is currently available."
Regarding the coronavirus mutation, which has been transmitted from Britain to several countries around the world, he said that "although we know that this mutation of the virus now exists in Cyprus and needs special attention, however in Cyprus the necessary steps should be taken , in order to correct the epidemiological situation ".