Major tour operators from Britain, Germany and Russia have warned that demand for this year far exceeds supply and many will not be able to find what they are looking for.
And this year there will certainly be a strong phenomenon of double bookings, which, after all, is a regular tactic of hoteliers.
At very high levels, even compared to last year, when there was a historic record of arrivals in Cyprus, are the reservations so far. Everything shows that this year the tourism will have a good course again, while at the same time the hoteliers started to have a pleasant "headache", and this season is expected to be full.
According to "Simerini" from well-informed sources, this period is being "slaughtered" by major tour operators in Great Britain and Germany to secure as many rooms as possible, as demand at this time is literally soaring.
At the same time, the Union of Travel Agents of Russia (ATOR) in a statement advised its customers, who want to spend their holidays in Cyprus this year, to make their reservations in time, "because the demand is high, and the available beds in hotels are decreasing ».
Mouzenidis: "Numbers do not lie"
Russian travel agents have warned those interested that, if they do not make reservations in time, it is very likely that they will not be able to find a place on the beaches of our island this year. The same applies to the case of Greece, where bookings are also at very high levels.
The office of Mouzenidis Travel, noting that "the demand for Greece and Cyprus, for the second consecutive period, far exceeds our capacity to meet the needs of tourists", estimates that not all interested parties will be satisfied. , as the demand far exceeds the supply of beds.
"Greece and Cyprus are the safest European destinations for Russian tourists and this has its value," said Mouzenidis Travel, noting that the numbers are not false, and since this year four times more Russian tourists, compared to "Last year, they showed their preference for these two countries, which means that this trend will continue throughout 2017."
Offers
However, the special offers of the period until March or even April contribute to the increase of early bookings, a strategy followed by travel organizers, who wish to close the available seats as soon as possible. In Greece Grecotel offers a 15% discount, while in Cyprus the discounts reach 30%, according to ICS Travel Group.
Due to this trend, tour operators point out that as the season approaches, fewer and fewer hotels will have rooms available for booking in Greece and Cyprus. This makes it extremely difficult for those who decide at the last minute to make their reservations to find what they are looking for.
It does not affect Turkey
"The quality beaches of Greece and Cyprus, the possibilities that exist for many tourist tours, the food but also the security they provide to foreign tourists, are factors that make most Russian tourists choose these two countries for their summer holidays. , and not Turkey ".
This is the assessment of Russian travel agents, who believe that the fact that Turkey has reopened its resorts to Russian tourists after the restoration of relations with Russia is a factor that will not affect the demand for Greece and Cyprus, although Turkey was the most popular destination for Russian tourists.
Beaches, excursions, food
According to Svetlana Davidyuk, from the Russian agency "Russkii Express", there are many tourists who revisit Greece and Cyprus, where they find quality beaches, various tours and excursions, and of course excellent food. The same view is expressed by Elena Laseyeva, from the agency KMP-Group, who, however, points out that in last minute trips, Turkey takes the lead as no formal visa procedures are required.
However, given this reality, which prevails in the Turkish market, Russian travel agents estimate that even if there is a turn of Russian tourists to Turkey, it will be imperceptible.
Cypriots and duplications
As for the Cypriots who want to spend their summer holidays inside and especially in the coastal cities, as a market player told us, it would be good to keep their rooms as early as possible, as this year things will be very difficult. At the same time, as the same factor told us, this year there will certainly be a strong phenomenon of double booking, which is a regular tactic of hoteliers, but advises hoteliers not to overdo it, as there will be problems due to overcrowding.
CTO reflection
The Cyprus Tourism Organization has already officially expressed its concern - and in particular regarding German visitors - whether they will finally be able to find beds, especially during the summer months, as the lack of vacancies observed in hotels in recent years is a phenomenon. which peaked last year, with the many cases of duplication observed.
At the same time, the CTO requested that hoteliers give space to tour operators from this country, so that they would be satisfied and continue to bring people to Cyprus and not make reservations available only in the two main markets, namely Great Britain and Russia.
Source: "Today".