Tourism under pressure: Summer bookings in Cyprus fall by a quarter

Cyprus's tourism sector is facing a significant downturn: bookings for the summer season have decreased by approximately 25% compared to last year. This was reported by the head of the hoteliers' association PASIXE, Christos Angelides.

According to him, current hotel occupancy is only 40–50%, whereas a year ago in the same period it reached 75%, and in July it reached a record 95%. Although the number of booking cancellations has stabilized, new applications are arriving slowly, causing concern among industry representatives.

The decline in demand is already affecting revenues and creating risks for employment, as tourism remains a key sector of the economy. Angelides emphasized that the situation requires coordination of efforts between business and the state to protect jobs and support the industry.

One of the factors pressuring the market has been high jet fuel prices, causing airlines to reconsider routes. According to experts, Cyprus is losing out to more profitable destinations, such as Spain, where flight intensity is higher. Cases of reduced air connections have already been recorded, further limiting the flow of tourists.

In response, the industry is focusing on market diversification, including attracting tourists from the UK and the USA; however, these measures have not yet produced a tangible effect.