By Helen Christophi Published on April 15, 2010
TOURISTS ARE foregoing holidaying in Cyprus in favour of cheaper destinations nearby such as Egypt and Turkey, claimed president of the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) Victor Mantovani yesterday.
The cost of consumables such as food and coffee is too high to sustain tourism to Cyprus much longer, said the president. If prices remain at their current levels or rise, tourism to Cyprus will suffer irrevocably, he concluded.
“Prices abroad are cheaper than eating a pizza or having two cappuccinos here,” said Mantovani.
The situation has become so dire that even Cypriots who need to go on a simple shopping trip have begun taking five-day holidays to Milan to buy their items rather than buying them here because, according to Mantovani, “The same amount you would spend here on a dress, you spend there on the dress and the rest on your days in Milan.”
“Only with pressure are tourists still coming to Cyprus,” he said. “In Egypt and Turkey there are newer hotels that are better than ours,” and consequently Cyprus has seen a drop in tourism over the last ten years.
Mantovani also addressed the 15 per cent uptick in tourism to the island recording by Eurostat for this past March compared to March 2009 (103,803 arrivals this year compared to 90,434 arrivals last year), saying it is still unclear whether the increase reflects an increase in the number of actual tourists who visited the island last month or if it instead accounted for a combination of Easter holiday visitors and Cypriot university students returning from abroad to spend their Easter break at home.
While tourism numbers also rose in February, Cypriot tour operators have refrained from concluding that the industry is recovering. To gauge whether the island will likely see a satisfactory tourism season, it is necessary to wait for the coming months’ statistics.
Mantovani also expressed concern that Cyprus is further discouraging tourism by initiating road works projects in Cyprus’ most popular tourist destinations during peak travel times.
“Try to go to Ayia Napa tomorrow: you cannot,” he said. “The streets are closed and they are doing works. We’re losing April and it is a shame and it is the same every year,” he continued.
“Last year it was Paphos, this year it is Ayia Napa, and the year before that it was Protaras,” he added.
Mantovani’s comments came at a press conference at which the association announced that it will hold its 13th annual travel exhibition at the end of April.
The exhibition, which the association organises to provide Cypriot travellers with information and packages on both local and international holiday destinations, will feature tour operators and representatives of airlines, tourist organisations and Cypriot and international hotels. There will be fifty participants in all.
“As part of a planned action to develop tourism and travel, the ACTA is constantly striving to expand and upgrade this exhibition in order to turn it, a few years, into a strong regional hub for the meeting of visitors and exhibitors,” Mantovani said.
The exhibition highlights a country or region of interest every year; this year organizers will highlight the Czech Republic due the large number of Cypriots who travel there each year.
Visitors will have a chance to win free airfare, cruises and hotel accommodations.
The exhibition will run from April 23-25 from 4-10 pm at the International State Fair. Entrance for adults is €5 and free for children under 12 years of age.
So, its not just the whingeing brits then?
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/cyprus/it-s- ... d/20100415
