This year we had the best nine months of all time in tourism, declared today the Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis, adding that tourism in 2024 recorded a very good performance and we are optimistic that we will succeed in 2025 as well.
In statements at the opening of the Cyprus Airways Flying Academy at Larnaca airport, and asked to make an assessment of the tourist season so far, Mr. Koumis said that "we are talking about the best 9 months of all time" since, as he explained, "both arrivals and revenues register a remarkable rise. Under the circumstances, i.e. all that we had and have to deal with this year, we are very happy," he said.
He added that "we started with a negative sign affected by what was happening in the Eastern Mediterranean region, we were most affected by the crisis that characterized the aviation sector and by the economic situation in Central and Western Europe, so yes we are very happy with the results so far today's performance in the tourism sector".
Asked why this increase was due, Kostas Koumis replied "to the hard work done by all those who make up the tourism ecosystem of our country, the government, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Transport, the managing company of the airports and of course the tourism industry in whole of it".
When asked what the prospects are for the winter season, the Deputy Minister of Tourism replied that "we expect that the tourist season will record a small increase compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, which had recorded an increase of 7% compared to the previous year. Of course, if the situation in the Eastern Mediterranean region was in a better phase, we would have a much higher rise", he pointed out.
He added that "we have won some weeks, the majority of the tourist units of our country will remain open at least until the middle of November. I personally don't remember so many units staying open during this period," he said, and noted that "our goal for next year is at least November to be much better than November 2024."
A corresponding goal, he continued, "we had set a year ago in relation to October and it is a bet that we have achieved".
Regarding the flight schedule for November, Mr. Koumis said that "the flight schedule of our country is very good. 55 airlines from 39 different countries operate routes to and from Cyprus, the flight schedule is extremely good, it has been somewhat affected by the latest events in neighboring Israel but in general it is in a very good condition", he pointed out.
Asked to state whether Israel's attack against Iran will affect tourism in Cyprus and the aviation sector in general, Kostas Koumis said that "I want to and I am always optimistic".
"We had similar cases a few weeks ago and a few months ago and at the beginning of the year." Where we end up, he continued, “is only positive results. Tourism in 2024 records a very good performance and let's be optimistic that we will succeed in 2025 as well," he said.
When asked if work has started for the summer of 2025, the Deputy Minister of Tourism replied that "we have already started planning for several months and I am really optimistic that we will have a better performance than in 2024".
When asked about agritourism, the Deputy Minister replied that "it is a perennial goal of the state, it is a sector where we want to see steady growth and as a Government in general we are investing in mountainous Cyprus. The day before yesterday we were with the President of the Republic and a large group of Ministers in Asbestos, we heard and saw together the problems and challenges of the specific area and we are and will be able to provide solutions immediately", he noted.
He also stated that "as the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, we have also announced a specific grant program, the well-known program for the revival of mountainous areas and rural areas, and we have received a very large number of applications from the Communities that make up mountainous Cyprus and rural Cyprus" .
Source: KYPE
