The tourist season in Cyprus is getting off to a slower-than-expected start

The tourism industry in Cyprus is recording a gradual improvement in booking flow, but figures remain below expectations for the start of the summer season. This was stated by PASYXE president Thanos Michaelides.

According to him, the number of bookings in May was below industry forecasts, and a similar situation is likely to continue in June as well. At the same time, compared with March, the market is showing positive momentum, although it still remains far from the desired levels.

Hotel operators are particularly concerned about bookings for July and August. According to Michaelides, the shortage of reservations began to build up back in the spring. Nevertheless, industry representatives are counting on Cyprus's traditional high volume of last-minute bookings, which could improve the season's overall results.

Israel remains one of the key markets for Cypriot tourism. The head of PASYXE noted that recently there has been growing interest from Israeli tourists and expressed hope for a further increase in the flow of visitors from that country.

Special attention in the industry is being paid to staffing. According to Michaelides, personnel are the main factor enabling Cyprus to compete successfully with other tourist destinations. However, the unstable situation in the Middle East is creating additional difficulties in retaining workers in the hotel sector.

In this regard, hotel operators are calling for the continuation of state support measures that will help preserve employment during periods of declining tourist flows.

Speaking about the cost of holidays, the association head stressed that prices in Cypriot hotels remain competitive. Many hotels have offered additional discounts to tour operators, as well as special deals for local residents in anticipation of growth in domestic tourism.

According to Michaelides, tourists from the United Kingdom, Israel, Poland, Germany, the Scandinavian countries and other European states continue to play an important role in the development of the industry. At the same time, one of the factors affecting demand remains the relatively high cost of air tickets, which is linked to the island's geographic location.