President of the Paphos hotel association (Pasyxe) Evripides Loizides on Thursday expressed satisfaction with hotel occupancy rates in Paphos during the long weekend of Kataklysmos, saying that they exceeded 90 per cent.
In a statement to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Loizides described the month of June as “problematic” because, as he put it, the high cost of living has “killed” extended holiday stays in Cyprus.
He added that hotel occupancy in Paphos for June so far stands at approximately 75 per cent.
Asked for further comment, he explained that Paphos has a tradition as a family destination.
However, he explained that there are also hotels catering exclusively to couples, and that the district of Paphos offers the full range of hotel accommodation types.
Moreover, the Pasyxe president pointed out that statistics show an increase of around 14.5 per cent in tourist arrivals to Cyprus up to the end of April, clarifying that this pertains to the winter months.
He estimated that this percentage will decline during May and June, predicting that tourist activity will remain at last year’s levels.
Regarding the markets leading tourism in the Paphos district, Loizides said the UK market ranks first.
He also said that that Poland “seems to follow in terms of revenue figures”, with Israel in third place.
Meanwhile, Loizides described the suspension of twelve weekly flights from Israel to Paphos Airport as a loss.
He acknowledged that the Israeli market remains “uncertain” due to many cancellations but added that it is still welcome.
Addressing problems faced by the hotel industry, Loizides referred to staffing challenges. He also explained that newcomers to the sector require significant time for training.
He concluded by stating that the water issue must be addressed through a long-term plan.
