A message to all institutions as they work together in order for the increased searches to be turned into reservations, was sent by the Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios with his statements to KYPE.
Speaking to KYPE from Athens, Mr. Perdios reminded that Cyprus is showing increased dynamics in Google searches, while based on the data for the first four months of the year, tourist arrivals are estimated at about half a million, which corresponds to 70% of corresponding to the period of 2019, the year with the highest record of tourist arrivals on the island at a time when in the first months of the year, Cyprus had a strict entry protocol to the country that required a double coronavirus test even for vaccinated citizens.
"This performance is not bad and gives us optimism for the future and this is further enhanced by Google searches," he said.
Mr. Perdios reminded that the searches in April for Cyprus were 25% higher than in April 2019, a performance that was recorded despite the fact that Russia and Ukraine had been removed due to the war in that country and the sanctions of Moscow.
He also noted that in April the searches reached 1,5 million per week, which, as he added, shows that there is a demand for travel (pent-up demand) that had been trapped in previous years due to restrictions on Covid-19. He also said that the increase in searches showed that specialized campaigns abroad, the implementation of digital and targeted promotion campaigns, contacts with new markets and the actions of the State Department to change the tourist identity are paying off.
"Certainly not all arrivals will be made but this shows interest in Cyprus. "Every search is an opportunity and we must all work together in a targeted way to turn the searches into bookings," he added.
Regarding the origin of the searches, Mr. Perdios said that 30% comes from the United Kingdom, noting that the important thing is that the shares of other markets have increased, limiting the share of the United Kingdom, the largest traditional market in Cyprus.
"We have strengthened the demand for Cyprus from all other markets, something we have been trying to achieve in recent years," said the Deputy Minister of Tourism.
As he said, the searches from Germany amount to 12% of the total, 10% from the Scandinavian countries, 9% from Poland, 6% from France, 6% from the USA, 5% from Israel, 4% from The Netherlands, 4% from Austria, while Switzerland, Greece, Hungary and Belgium have 3% each.
Moreover, Mr. Perdios said that "huge increases" are recorded in the search for car rentals, various activities on the island and short getaways. "It shows that we have begun to attract interest from nearby countries for short vacations and solo travelers."
Regarding Greece, Mr. Perdios said that the State Department is implementing an intensive action to enhance arrivals, which in the quarter January-March 2022 corresponded to 10% of total arrivals, adding that air connectivity has been strengthened, while further prospects also creates the ferry connection that starts this year.
"Greece never has 10% of arrivals, if this share remains for the whole year then it will be a very good year for the Greek market," he added.
Since yesterday, Mr. Perdios had contacts with travel organizers and attended an event for specialized travel agents and media in Greece.
The Undersecretary of Tourism will also travel with the Minister of Transport to Saudi Arabia at the end of May with the aim of taking the next step in the air connection between the two countries, he said. In mid-June, he will travel to France again for a follow-up visit, while a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed with the Alsace tourism agency in the field of special interests and to enhance the country's visibility.
"For this summer, I believe we did what we could do. "From now on, our work is focused on winter and the future," he concluded.