Cyprus-Forum.com

[Sotos]

There is this purdey guy who keeps posting that Cyprus Tourism is going down. I don't know why he thinks so! Maybe just because his own business is not doing well he thinks that everybody is doing bad? Here are the real numbers.

http://www.pio.gov.cy/mof/cystat/statis ... enDocument

Last year we had a 0.6% increase in arrivals but 5.6% increase in revenues from tourism which was the best year since 2002. This year January had -2.3% but February was up 11.2% and both months had an increase in revenues. I also talked to 3 different 5 and 4 star Hotel managers in Limassol and they all told me they are doing good!!

[zan]

None of those links open Sotos

Do the numbers include those crossing from the TRNC???

All the reports about hotels complaining is also wrong then.

[zan]

MPs call for urgent action to stop tourism spiral
AS NEIGHBOURING countries watch their tourist income hit the roof, Cyprus is on a downward spiral, with tourism’s contribution to GDP halved in the past few years alone.

This was the message from the Chairman of the House Commerce Committee, Lefteris Christoforou of DISY, after yesterday’s meeting on the problems and prospects of Cyprus tourism.

Christoforou said diminishing tourism was having drastic effects on the economy and society.

Spokesmen for the Commerce Ministry, Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO), hoteliers’ union PASYXE and the Association of Tourist Enterprises (STEK) were all invited to attend yesterday parliamentary session.

“Our understanding is that Cyprus tourism has been on a downward spiral over the past few years,” said Christoforou. “Especially when neighbouring and competitor countries are seeing their tourist arrivals and tourism income hit the roof; Cyprus is constantly shrinking in both arrivals and income, which has resulted in tourism contributing just 10 per cent to the GDP when it used to contribute 19 per cent.”

He said it was time drastic measures were taken in order to reinforce tourism at all levels.

Christoforou pointed out that the CTO’s strategic plan had not yet been implemented, resulting in increased air fares that contribute to the problem.

According to the DISY deputy, there are currently 17 services, five ministries and a semi-governmental organisation implicated in tourism issues. “We need to create a single unified organisation, which will deal with all issues that have to do with Cyprus tourism.”

speaking after the meeting, DIKO deputy Angelos Votsis painted a more positive picture, saying there had been a slight increase in arrivals in 2007; but he admitted that this was not satisfactory, especially taking into consideration the success enjoyed by neighbouring countries.

But he said he would remain positive for the future of Cyprus tourism, saying that the CTO, PASYXE and STEK all agreed to co-operate in order to improve the situation.

Votsis referred to a plan approved by the EU, which will enable the CTO to offer incentives to foreign airlines to visit Cyprus for the next three to five years.

He also said there was a plan for winter tourism, which he said the CTO was hoping, would bring positive results.



Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2008

[Sotos]

I edited the links. They point to the main page for statistics for tourism now.

AS NEIGHBOURING countries watch their tourist income hit the roof, Cyprus is on a downward spiral, with tourism’s contribution to GDP halved in the past few years alone.

Thats not because Tourism is going down but because other services like Banking are going up. Go see the numbers I posted. Revenues from tourism are not worst and are even better than last few years. But because revenues from other sectors went up a lot this means that the contribution of Toursim in our economy is now a lower percentage. Thats what we always wanted. To be less dependent on tourism. Of course the Hoteliers want the state to invest more in tourism so they will continue to make more and more money.

[purdey]

Only quoting from Cyprus mail Sotos, which is written and edited by Cypriots. Try the link from yesterday, you know the one at the bottom of the page. Maybe the CTO are wrong again, and you have further info.
My business is fine thank you I don't work in the tourist market and my customers are Cypriots. Growth last year based on British financial year (April-April) was 19 % . Saying that I do have friends who are tourism based and they have seen a decline, maybe they are wrong also.
Rule of thumb, speak to people in the trade..figures provide great reading and are great for PR purposes, but money in pocket is what counts....

[Tim Drayton]

What Cyprus has been good at over the years is catering for the package holiday market, with a particular focus on British holidaymakers. All this takes is sea, sand, sun and a bit of infrastructure in the form of hotels, bars, restaurants and some entertainement facilities. It is not rocket science and any country around the Mediterranean can supply this same product. In business jargon, there is no USP (Unique selling point). In other words, this is a commodity and price is the most important selling point. A few decades ago Cyprus was cheap; now it is an expensive country. Destinations such as Turkey and Egypt are much cheaper and it is clear that they will take an increasing share of this market. There is a self-defeating element to it all: a poor country attracts a lot of tourists because it is cheap, develops economically on the back of this and gets richer and finally is no longer able to attract as many tourists because it is no longer cheap. Cyprus is in the final stage of this cycle. There is no sudden collapse going on; tourism's share of GDP has been in decline for decades. The economy is gradually diversifying and moving into activities that add greater value. I see no reason for doom and gloom.

[purdey]

Sotos are you in Public Relations ? massageing the figures to suit..been less dependant on tourism is all very well, and I believe Cyprus is achieving that but the tourism industry is seeing a slowdown, otherwise why are they complaining..

[purdey]

Unless your business relies 100% on tourist income Tim.

[Tim Drayton]

Unless your business relies 100% on tourist income Tim.

Some people are going to have to move into new lines of business, I am afraid.

[Get Real!]

The World Tourism Organization is an even more reliable source…

http://www.unwto.org/facts/menu.html


International Tourist Arrivals by Country of Destination

Year…….....1990..…..1995…..2000…...2003……2004…..2005*

Cyprus…….1,561……2,100…2,686…..2,303……2,349….2,470


http://www.unwto.org/facts/eng/pdf/indi ... europe.pdf

The Cyprus Mail is full of shit as per usual...