Cyprus-Forum.com

[Svetlana]

Cyprus tops EU state for contribution of tourism to the economy
By Patrick Dewhurst
Published on January 7, 2010


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CYPRUS is the most specialised hospitality country in Europe, with over 17 per cent of the workforce,or 38 out of every 1,000 people employed in the sector, it emerged yesterday.
According to a Eurostat report, Cyprus tops the charts in terms of value added to the economy by hotels and restaurants.
Cyprus has 735 tourist establishments with an average bed capacity of 119.
The report shows that 12.2 per cent of value added to Cyprus business economy (excluding finance) came from this sector. This is more than twice that of Ireland, which had the next highest share.
The report explains this specialisation is due to various factors. It says "Specialisations within this activity are strongly related to climate, natural or man-made attractions (beaches, mountains, castles, etc), as well as proximity to a critical mass of potential customers (in particular for restaurants and bars)"
In addition to hospitality related workforce and value added, the report also reveals that in 2007 visitors to Cyprus booked longer stays than anywhere else in Europe. The average number of nights spent in hotels by foreigners was over a week, while foreign visitors to most other member states spend between two and four days.
Resident vacations were actually below the European average, despite there being adequate infrastructure. The report suggests that this might be because domestic travel is likely to be on business, or reflect people spending long weekends on holiday, neither of which applies to a small island.
Comparing the average number of nights spent with the number of inhabitants on the island, reveals the "tourism intensity". Cyprus, perhaps unsurprisingly, was nearly six times the EU 27 Average, and second only to Malta.
The report will no doubt make for uncomfortable reading for the island's economists, as they reveal Cyprus' heavy reliance on foreign tourism. With the latest CTO figures showing more than a ten per cent drop in tourist arrivals and a corresponding 17 per cent decline in revenue for, it seems Cyprus could be particularly badly hit this year, with many of those employed in the hospitality becoming redundant, as many are already.
The report shows that the hotels and restaurants workforce is atypical across the EU, as it has a relatively high proportion of women and part-time workers. “This may reflect employment
flexibility, with considerable opportunities for those seeking work outside of the normal nine to five routine for example, students,” it said.
There is a silver lining in the report, however. The figures show that Cyprus is one of the most competitive European countries in terms of tourism, with a developed infrastructure and wealth of natural resources such as beaches and mountains.
The report also reveals one strong area for potential growth

[Raymanoff]

Now we are officially f***d up tourist capital in EU

[RichardB]

CYPRUS is the most specialised hospitality country in Europe, with over 17 per cent of the workforce,or 38 out of every 1,000 people employed in the sector, it emerged yesterday

Now my Maths aint that good but surely 17% of 1000 is 170

[AWE]

do you count student, OAPs and government workers as part of the workforce?

[Baggieboy]

17% of 1000 would be 170, but I think they are referring to the workforce rather than the population as a whole.

Therefore 17% of a workforce also happens to be 38 out of every 1000 people (including non-workers/pensioners. children etc)

[RichardB]

17% of 1000 would be 170, but I think they are referring to the workforce rather than the population as a whole.

Therefore 17% of a workforce also happens to be 38 out of every 1000 people (including non-workers/pensioners. children etc)

But that would mean only around 225 out of each 1000 population is in work (38 as a percentage of 225 is roughly 17%)

But any way who cares

[Baggieboy]

True

[Baggieboy]

True