Half of Cyprus’ hotels are open this festive season, offering special programmes for Christmas and New Year, according to Thanos Michaelides, president of the Cyprus Hoteliers Association (Pasyxe).
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Michaelides siad that operating levels are consistent with last year.
“Most of the open hotels”, he said, “are in Larnaca and Paphos”.
“There are always special rates for Cyprus residents,” Michaelides added.
Foreign tourists currently staying in these hotels mainly come from the UK, Germany, and Poland.
Commenting on the holiday period, he said that “there is interest from Cypriots as usual for the dates of December 24, 25, 26, 31, and January 1”.
Michaelides acknowledged the challenges faced by the industry, citing constant pressure from regional geopolitical tensions.
“The problems for hotels have been constant, with the geopolitical developments in the region,” he stated.
Nonetheless, he expressed optimism that the new year would bring “much-needed stability to the region, positively impacting tourism”.
Looking ahead, he emphasised the importance of addressing labour shortages, stressing the need for more efficient hiring procedures for foreign workers.
“This would allow hotels to staff earlier and provide the level of service that international markets expect,” Michaelides concluded.
