Tourism is following an encouraging upward trend in the last period, both in arrivals and revenues. The full positive course has the fullness of the licensed tourist accommodations.
Based on accommodation data in licensed tourist accommodation, the average net fullness of beds - taking into account their actual duration of operation during the year - is constantly increasing.
The net occupancy of beds in licensed accommodation reaches 68,8% in 2016 with an increase of 11%. It should be noted that for 2015/2014 the corresponding number was 62%, while for 2014/2013, the net fullness of beds in licensed accommodation was 59,8%.
Particularly encouraging is the fact that the increase in net occupancy was accompanied by a corresponding increase in gross bed occupancy which was found at 48,7% of the total number of beds, recording an increase of 13,5% from 2015. For 2015/2014 but also 2014/2013 the gross fullness of beds remained stable at 43%.
The bet
Increasing the gross occupancy of beds is the biggest tourist bet. That is, arrivals on a year-round basis and not just the six-eight months that hotels remain open. The numbers of gross bed occupancy show that the prospects for this industry are very high.
Famagusta is an indicative example of seasonality, as in summer no pin falls, while in winter darkness prevails. The net fullness of beds reaches 95,1% (increase of 15,3% since 2015), however, the gross fullness of beds reaches only 54,2% as for the winter the tourist area of Protaras and Ayia Napa rolls down.
In Paphos the gross occupancy of beds amounts to 49,7% (increase of 13% since 2015) while for the summer tourist season the occupancy rises to 63,6%.
Limassol presents a more balanced picture. The net fullness of beds reaches 53,7%, while the gross at 41,8% recording an increase of 14,6% since 2015.
The areas of Larnaca and Nicosia are stable on a year-round basis, whether the net or gross fullness of beds is measured. Gross occupancy in Nicosia amounts to 30,1% and in Larnaca to 44,7% (both recording an increase of 13,3% since 2015). The numbers regarding the net fullness of beds are: 32,4% and 49,9% respectively in Nicosia and Larnaca.
12 months tourism
Cyprus is characterized by seasonality in the tourist flow and the winter months are a big wound. While there are grant plans from the CTO (for example in sports tourism), the numbers are still low.
However, there is great momentum that has developed since last year. During the winter months of 2016 (January-March and November-December) there were 463.727 tourist arrivals, recording an increase of 23,2% compared to the number of tourist arrivals in the respective months of 2015.
The CTO notes that the performance of the winter months of 2016 is the fourth best performance in the history of Cyprus, marginally behind 2001 and 1997.
Mountain resorts are asking for incentives
Only 18,2% is the gross occupancy of beds in licensed accommodation in mountain resorts, which shows the prospects that mountain areas have to attract more tourism.
It should also be noted that the number does not differ with the net fullness of beds amounting to 22,1%, while compared to the previous year, in 2015, there was a decrease of 1%.
The Troodos Tourism Development Company suggests that measures be taken to address both the seasonality of tourism and the growing flight of residents from the mountainous areas.
The requests of the mountain resorts to the CTO are divided into two categories. On the one hand to provide incentives to foreign tour operators and on the other hand to provide incentives to bus operators in order to improve the connectivity of mountain areas with major cities.
Source: Phileleftheros / Dimitra Landou