Three major tourism companies abroad, TUI, JET 2 and EASY JET HOLIDAY, are increasing their programs to Cyprus, in view of the summer of 2020, in order to cover, to some extent, the losses from the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook , according to a newspaper report Citizen.
This is the main conclusion of the hoteliers of free Famagusta, who participated in the tourism exhibition in London last week. As the president of PASYXE Famagusta, Doros Takkas, stated in the newspaper Politis, these three tourist organizations seem to increase their packages to Cyprus in order to cover, not 100%, but a significant part of T. Cook's losses.
"My assessment is that in the summer of 2020 we will be at about the same level as last summer, in terms of arrivals of visitors from the United Kingdom. The gap left by the bankruptcy of Thomas Cook will be somewhat reduced ", he said.
The Russians
For the last five years, the English tourist market remains second for the province of Famagusta, in terms of tourist arrivals, after the Russian one which is first. This is because according to official data provided by the local hoteliers' association of major Russian tour operators, seven out of ten Russian or Ukrainian tourists traveling to Cyprus end up in Famagusta resorts.
"Our province is the favorite of the Russians. They like the area, they like the lifestyle of Ag. Napas and Protaras ”, added Mr. Takkas.
New markets
Meanwhile, PASYXE Famagusta is attempting openings to other markets, in order to increase the tourist flow to the province. D. Takkas said that efforts are being made to develop specific markets, such as the Middle East, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, in order to reduce dependence on Russian and British tourists.
"These are markets that in recent years have begun to send us people and we want to increase the flow of tourists from these countries, in view of next summer"he pointed out.
More revenue in August
Revenues from tourism in August amounted to 431,6 million euros compared to 428,2 million euros in the corresponding month of the previous year, recording a marginal increase of 0,8%.
Based on the results of the Traveler Survey, published by the Statistical Service, for the period January - August 2019, revenues from tourism are estimated at 1,856 billion euros compared to 1,889 billion euros in the corresponding period of 2018, a decrease of 1,7 %.
Regarding August, the data show that although the guests spent more, the final income is lower due to a shorter stay.
The average length of stay was limited to 9,9 days, from 10,3 days in August 2018.
The per capita expenditure of tourists for August 2019 amounted to 779,31 euros compared to 800,65 euros in the corresponding month of the previous year, recording a decrease of 2,7%. The per capita / per day expenditure of tourists for August 2019 compared to August 2018 increased by 1,3% (77,73 euros to 78,72 euros).
In the eight months, the per capita expenditure of tourists for the period January - August 2019 amounted to 678,69 euros compared to 694,85 euros in the corresponding period last year, recording a decrease of 2,3%. The per capita / per day expenditure of tourists for the period January - August 2019 compared to the period January - August 2018 decreased by 0,2% (from 75,53 euros to 75,41 euros).
The movement
The Statistical Service also published data on travel traffic. Traveler arrivals in September 2019 reached 679.628, compared to 668.604 in September 2018, showing an increase of 1,6%. This increase is due to both tourist arrivals (0,9%) and returns of Cypriots (2,1%), according to the Statistical Service. For the period January - September 2019, the arrivals of travelers amounted to 4.610.502 compared to 4.473.791 in the corresponding period of 2018, recording an increase of 3,1%. For the specific period, there was an increase of 0,6% in the arrivals of tourists and 7,8% in the returns of residents of Cyprus.
Regarding the departures of travelers, there is also an increase of 1,2% in September 2019 compared to the previous year, as well as a 3,1% increase for the period January - September 2019.
Source: CITIZEN / Vassos Vassou