June is numb in terms of tourism, while there is moderate optimism for July and August, said to KYPE the General Manager of the Pancyprian Hoteliers Association (PASYXE) Filokypros Rousounidis, adding that although the situation is good, the epidemiological picture will be good. in other countries.
At the moment, he noted, we are keeping a waiting attitude, we are waiting for the developments in the various countries from where we expect tourist traffic and especially from our traditional markets, Great Britain, Israel and Russia.
He said that the initiative for the issue has been taken by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios, who is visiting these countries to examine it at a political level.
As for Great Britain, he said that "we do not expect that in the next categorization which will be on the 7th of the month to make us green, but we hope that even at the end of the month on 28 June, which will be the next evaluation, indeed to go to the green category, which will mean a substantial descent of tourists from Great Britain ".
Mr. Rousounidis noted that from Russia, Cyprus expects to be allowed chartered flights that will open the way for tourist traffic.
There is also hope for the tourist movement from Israel, with the stabilization of the situation in the area after the deteriorating situation that existed, so that the flow that existed before the incidents in the Gaza Strip can resume
"As a destination we declare our readiness, we have a restrained optimism that stems from our much improved epidemiological picture that we hope will soon lead us to the green category of all countries and this will give the stigma and vaccinate the tourist Cyprus with enough people from abroad ", he added.
Asked if there are any reservations for this month, he said "we have no reservations, things are still numb".
He said: "From Germany and Scandinavia where we expected some numbers and from there, unfortunately we see Sweden and the Nordic countries still have epidemiological issues, some countries are in lockdown. Germany also frequently issues travel instructions to avoid travel. So in conclusion, we as a destination are in full readiness, our epidemiological picture is such that allows moderate optimism and we are waiting for the developments ".
Regarding the reservations for July and August, he noted that "there were some reservations before, but they are not numbers that touch what we are very used to at this time".
Mr. Rousounidis finally said that the state as well as the entire tourism industry has daily contact with the tourism partners abroad and discusses the developments.
"We hope that by the end of June, things will start to change and we will have a significant tourist traffic from the beginning of July onwards," he concluded.