Cyprus-Forum.com

[tessintrnc]

Hi, Im a new kid on the block.

This thread certainly seems to have evolved into a political argument, verging on philosophical.

Nothing wrong with that, I say.

Just to take it back to it's roots...I'm a Brit, who has been visiting Cyprus for around 3 years now, ever since my daughter and her fiance moved there to start up a business in the tourist industry.

We are now having a house built up in the hills between Paphos and Polis and so I am very interested in the question "Do Cypriots hate the British?".

In my experience of Cypriots, we have always found them extremely welcoming and friendly and we are already treated as family by some.

In fact, during the whole time we have been visiting Cyprus we have only been screwed by Brits.

Having said that, our daughter, being in the tourist trade, has seen first hand that the Cypriot traders have 2 prices...one for Cypriots and one for tourists...not unreasonable in itself but it is generally considered by the Cypriots that the tourist is there to be screwed.

This has meant that Cyprus is now one of the most expensive places to holiday (I have heard, even more so that the Maldives).

It's a shame baceuse tourism has dropped by 50% year on year over the past 2 years and no-one is doing anything to make it more attractive.

Whether it likes it or not, Cyprus depends a great deal on tourism for its
prosperity. If the tourist is killed off, like the Dodo, Cyprus will suffer.

Just being a member of the EU is not enough!

Cyprus itself admits that is has to import almost everything it has. EXCEPT THE SUN and the welcome of the Cypriot people.

I believe that the govenment needs to help the trader (and the hotels) and the Cypriot tourist trader needs to become less expensive.

Remember, most holiday makers will be comparing with Spain, which also costs just a few pounds to go to.
I intend to be living in my house in Cypus within a few years and I wish to become a part of the local Cypriot community.

It will not matter to me if tourism drops (other than the fact that my daughter will become broke and start living off me again). I just think that Cyprus has so much to offer it would be a shame to kill it out of greed or stupidity.

Phew!! That's my 2 euros worth.

Bottom line...I really like Cyprus and I have found the Cypriots much better than the Brits. Long may it remain!!

I think the cost of travel has a LOT to answer for. Most people are prepared to spend a few quid when they holiday, but the cost of flights is getting rediculous, I just spent £1,440 flying my daughter and family to Cyprus. Thank God they have saved up some spending money!!!
Tess

[purdey]

My parents have just booked to return to the UK on Sunday.Cyprus Airways Larnaca-Manchester one way,£389 each.

[Sotos]

Welcome Saint Cypriots don't hate the British! Cypriots just don't like how the British goverment treats Cyprus. If you support those actions of the British goverment like the British Bases then maybe they will not like you This is our island and we don't want anybody else occupying our lands either it is Turkish troops or British troops. Thats not so hard to understand I hope! The two prices thing is called price discrimination and it is a usual practice everywhere. It was not invented by Cypriots And about tourism I don't fully agree with you. For many years the governments have said two things. That Cyprus should depend less on tourism and more on other kinds of services, and that Cyprus should attract more higher income tourists and less budged tourists. If you see the economy of Cyprus during the last few years you will see we are going in that direction. Now Cyprus has other developed services such as banking that bring profits to Cyprus, and tourism is less quantity but more quality and thats why profits from tourism are not less now than before!

[purdey]

What is a higher income tourist Sotos ? is Cyprus moving away from catering for the general tourist ? Where do the higher income tourists stay ? Please don't say The four Seasons and alike.
Please also remember tourism is still the mainstay of the economy,maybe not for long ..eh

[Sotos]

Higher income tourist is the one who comes and spends more money than a budged tourist. For example he lives in a 5 star hotel, he dines in restaurants and not in McDonalds, he has money to spend on shopping etc. One such tourist can worth 10 budget tourists.

[DT.]

As I said before, I don't think Cypriots hate the British over here. There is a lot of mistrust for Cypriots however. The post below is from that other forum and the guy makes an interesting point.

A little background...He was back in the UK and his car got stolen in paphos...his neighbours only called him about it 20 days later cause they thought he was back and didn't pop in to say hello. He began a rant about his neighbours but then THIS came out.

KG wrote:
Quote:
I have no doubts that life in Cyprus will be better than in the UK and I have every intention of making Cyprus my home -- but at least I know what life in Cyprus is really like from the average Cypriots point of view --

Your views don't get any better from the re-editing

Racism isn't very pleasant wherever it comes from. I don't think you will find life any better here for living here. I'll give you two years ... tops ... before you move on.

As a relatively good speller I rarely edit my posts -- on this occasion I edited it to put it in bold text to emphasize my point of view.

Are you saying that I'm racist ?? that's a strange view seeing as you don't know me at all and how you can relate that to me complaining about my neighbours couldn't care less attitude about my missing car I don't know.

I always wonder how criticism can be classed as racism when your not talking about your own kind -- seems strange to me -- criticism is what it is -- race doesn't even come into it.

My neighbours in Cyprus are ***** -- and that's the most honest way I can describe how I feel about them at this moment in time.

If anything you will find that the Cypriots are one of the most racist people you will find in the modern day world -- most of them believe that Cyprus is the centre of the universe and they are the best -- everybody else is inferior.

How they are going to cope with the EU laws on equality I don't know -- they will probably ignore it like everything else .

Read my post again and remember it for the future -- I promise I won't say "I told you so".

Moving on in two years -- Hmm I don't think so -- I'm in for the total journey -- but at least I have a idea of what I'm letting my self in for which it seems that sadly others don't.

Don't underestimate the Cypriots and don't be fooled by their smiling faces as a lot of them really hate you but you just don't know it yet.

I was going to write "wake up and smell the coffee" in my post but thought "donkey dung" was more appropriate.

The truth seems to hurt but to be fair the average Brit in Cyprus shouldn't be worried about Cypriot attitudes to them as they will rarely if ever see it and it will appear that everything is Rosy in the garden -- what you don't know about won't hurt you after all it's only words and opinions.

Bill

[purdey]

Great Sotos and I understand.The problem been is Cyprus has always relied on the budget tourist and the tourist infrastucture is built around this.Building 6 5* hotels will not remedy the situation.
As an example I spent a long weekend at a 5* hotel in Latchi last year.The price of the room per night no food was £400,because the hotel had only 12 guests in residence it cost me £200.
The hotel was fantastic,the food great,service 5* but there was no atmosphere,and this hotel never makes any money.
I see Cyprus moving forward and prospering but tourism budget or premuim will die.

[The Saint]

Welcome Saint Cypriots don't hate the British! Cypriots just don't like how the British goverment treats Cyprus. If you support those actions of the British goverment like the British Bases then maybe they will not like you This is our island and we don't want anybody else occupying our lands either it is Turkish troops or British troops. Thats not so hard to understand I hope! The two prices thing is called price discrimination and it is a usual practice everywhere. It was not invented by Cypriots And about tourism I don't fully agree with you. For many years the governments have said two things. That Cyprus should depend less on tourism and more on other kinds of services, and that Cyprus should attract more higher income tourists and less budged tourists. If you see the economy of Cyprus during the last few years you will see we are going in that direction. Now Cyprus has other developed services such as banking that bring profits to Cyprus, and tourism is less quantity but more quality and thats why profits from tourism are not less now than before!

Hi Sotos,

I am sure that you are far more familiar with the recent history of Cyprus that I.

I have no idea how the British Government treats Cyprus...if it's anything like it treats the British, then it's bad!!! I neither agree with it or diagree with it - I don't know enough about the policy.

Concerning the troops, I would generally agree with you. However, I think it would be far less beneficial for the southern Cypriot if you were "occupied" by the Turks.

Now I'm not interested in getting into political arguments, but, if my information is correct, when the Turks invaded Cyprus back in the 70's, was it not the British that kept them at bay?

I stand to be corrected, but that is how I have heard it.

As far as the Cypriot economy is concerned, I beleive the general Cypriot in the street stands to benefit far more from tourism than from banking.

And regarding tourism, having experienced Cypriot tourism (at least as a person planning to live there), there is no way that Cypriot tourism is looking to cater for the more "upmarket" tourist.

I've seen the crap that is for sale. It's no better than many tourist areas of Spain, who also cater for the upper and lower ends of the tourist market - but is much bigger than Cyprus.

Tourism is like general business. To be healthy you need to have both the high paying customer AND the higher volume low paying customer.

If you rely solely on the upper end of the market, my belief is that there will be fewer traders (albeit selling better quality goods at high prices) and that will not be beneficial.

(How many Cypriot McDonald's workers will lose their jobs?)

I agree with you that "screwing the tourist" was not invented by the Cypriot, but I do believe that the Cypriot tourist trader has taken it to a new degree.

I can also believe what you say about the government trying to encourage less dependence on the tourist. That will uphold what I said about the government not helping the tourist trader.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm not interested in the politics. I'm not even that bothered about the tourism. When I go to Cyprus to visit or to live, I embrace the Cypriot culture and go to the places the Cypriots go, usually with Cypriot friends.

I try to keep well away from British enclaves, like Paya, near Paphos.

[cyprusgrump]

Welcome Saint Cypriots don't hate the British! Cypriots just don't like how the British goverment treats Cyprus. If you support those actions of the British goverment like the British Bases then maybe they will not like you This is our island and we don't want anybody else occupying our lands either it is Turkish troops or British troops. Thats not so hard to understand I hope! The two prices thing is called price discrimination and it is a usual practice everywhere. It was not invented by Cypriots And about tourism I don't fully agree with you. For many years the governments have said two things. That Cyprus should depend less on tourism and more on other kinds of services, and that Cyprus should attract more higher income tourists and less budged tourists. If you see the economy of Cyprus during the last few years you will see we are going in that direction. Now Cyprus has other developed services such as banking that bring profits to Cyprus, and tourism is less quantity but more quality and thats why profits from tourism are not less now than before!

Hi Sotos,

I am sure that you are far more familiar with the recent history of Cyprus that I.

I have no idea how the British Government treats Cyprus...if it's anything like it treats the British, then it's bad!!! I neither agree with it or diagree with it - I don't know enough about the policy.

Concerning the troops, I would generally agree with you. However, I think it would be far less beneficial for the southern Cypriot if you were "occupied" by the Turks.

Now I'm not interested in getting into political arguments, but, if my information is correct, when the Turks invaded Cyprus back in the 70's, was it not the British that kept them at bay?

I stand to be corrected, but that is how I have heard it.

As far as the Cypriot economy is concerned, I beleive the general Cypriot in the street stands to benefit far more from tourism than from banking.

And regarding tourism, having experienced Cypriot tourism (at least as a person planning to live there), there is no way that Cypriot tourism is looking to cater for the more "upmarket" tourist.

I've seen the crap that is for sale. It's no better than many tourist areas of Spain, who also cater for the upper and lower ends of the tourist market - but is much bigger than Cyprus.

Tourism is like general business. To be healthy you need to have both the high paying customer AND the higher volume low paying customer.

If you rely solely on the upper end of the market, my belief is that there will be fewer traders (albeit selling better quality goods at high prices) and that will not be beneficial.

(How many Cypriot McDonald's workers will lose their jobs?)

I agree with you that "screwing the tourist" was not invented by the Cypriot, but I do believe that the Cypriot tourist trader has taken it to a new degree.

I can also believe what you say about the government trying to encourage less dependence on the tourist. That will uphold what I said about the government not helping the tourist trader.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm not interested in the politics. I'm not even that bothered about the tourism. When I go to Cyprus to visit or to live, I embrace the Cypriot culture and go to the places the Cypriots go, usually with Cypriot friends.

I try to keep well away from British enclaves, like Paya, near Paphos.

I’m amazed that nobody has kicked-off at this?

[purdey]

Maybe because it has all been said before,and our fellow forumers are giving The Saint the benefit of the doubt.
By the way The Saint,are you the Roger Moore version or the other guy.