Encouraging are the data from markets such as Germany and Israel, which this year also show large increases in tourist arrivals, estimates the local PASYXE of Paphos.
However, according to the spokesperson of the Paphos hoteliers, Euripides Loizidis, the freeze on bookings from the Russian market in combination with the numbness in the British market worries hoteliers who predict that 2018 will not be the year that will break the 2017 record. as were the initial indications.
The initial excitement at the end of the previous tourist season seems to be followed by reflection, he said.
The representative of the Paphos hoteliers, Euripides Loizidis, told KYPE that in the last three months of 2017 everything showed that 2018 would be a unique year for Cypriot Tourism.
Since last February, however, the international situation has changed, he said, citing both the warlike climate in some areas and the state of the economy with the devaluation of the ruble.
The devaluation of the Russian currency leads to a huge decline in Russia, which at the end of the year will probably mean a reduction of 300 thousand tourists from Russia, he said.
The fall of the Russian market in combination with the new beds that joined the market this year is squeezing the prices, pointed out Euripides Loizidis.
The representative of PASYXE Paphos revealed that in the last two months the bookings from the British market have been slowing down, recommending calmness and strengthening of the advertising campaign of Cyprus abroad.
Euripides Loizidis ruled out 2018 to surpass 2017, saying that the increase in Germans may be 60% but in absolute numbers this increase will not exceed 40 thousand new visitors.
When you lose up to 400 thousand from a market it is very difficult, he concluded, to replace them with increases from other markets or with new markets that opened this year mainly from countries of the former Eastern bloc or Israel.
Euripides Loizidis called on everyone to properly assess the situation and take measures now to make up for the losses that seem to occur mainly from the Russian market.
SOURCE: CIPE