Cyprus-Forum.com

[Acikgoz]

Can't help but add a few cents to the conversation.

There are lies, damn lies and statistics, is an oft used phrase by realists that have anecdotal evidence that contradicts the statistics presented. Yes official statistical offices do serve an important position in aiding management and direction of initiatives, however it is always wise to approach the stated facts with a certain level of skepticism as to what they mean. The subjective is in the interpretation.

As GR pointed out, the tourism figures reported have been declining over the last few years -
His interpretation is that tourism is a smaller portion of GDP than before and therefore less important

As Lman pointed out, tourism is still a large portion of GDP especially when you factor in the industry groups that are effected by it.

Oracle posted an article that pointed out, tourism appears to have picked up "Cyprus tourist arrivals rise in March in 15-month" and that "these latest figures offer some hope for a better 2010.

Bumper tourism revenues helped Cyprus achieve GDP growth of 4.4 percent in 2007 and 3.7 percent in 2008."

What can we extract, determine or assume from the info presented?
Tourism is a significant portion of the economy of the south, not statistically evidenced by Lman, however it’s integral part to other aspects of the economy evidenced by the statement in the Independent of it’s contribution to growth of GDP despite the flat numbers evidenced by GR’s data.
How did it get so convoluted? Everyone can make a point with the data, or more specifically argument given the accusations that fly around.
Ratsan makes a comment on tourism in the south, Lman says need to be woken up to this given anecdotal evidence, GC hard core say bothered, GR states not that important anyway, Oracle comes in with Lman’s input is irrelevant given statistics that justify GR. Oracle then comes in with a report by Independent on growth in Tourism figures and how important it is.
When you break it down one sees that winning a fragmented argument is more important than the result, with any opportunity to have a dig seen as either a bonus or objective.

[RichardB]

Oh Dear

The Booth clan and friends (approx 30 of us ) are flying out at the end of August for sons wedding.

Having read the comments on this thread I can see we're going to have to cancel Flights , Accommadation, and the wedding and make plans somewhere else.

Thankyou to Rastan (and indeed larnacaman) for the valuable thread here, your extremely vital input into the Cypriot Tourism industry has enlightened me and I am sure many thousands of others.

[paliometoxo]

LOL re richard.. congratulations for your son who will be married though

[Get Real!]

Cyprus’ tourism industry has never reached the €2b revenue mark in any year! We’ve reached a dead end… there is no further potential in tourism and that’s as far as its going!

When the tourist intake is steady for a whole decade, but the number of hotels, restaurants, and pubs being established are increasing then of course many are going to close down as there is not enough new customers to satisfy everyone!

People are foolish to keep opening pubs and such when this market is not growing! Had they bothered to check the statistics that the government provides they would’ve seen that there is NO GROWTH and therefore no potential in grabbing a market share!

It’s common sense!

[Gasman]

People are foolish to keep opening pubs and such when this market is not growing! Had they bothered to check the statistics that the government provides they would’ve seen that there is NO GROWTH and therefore no potential in grabbing a market share!

If only they would check. Here in Makenzy, all the way along from Makenzy beach to Finicoudes there are apartments up for sale or rent and hundreds are empty. The answer to this seems to have been decided upon.

They have flattened a nice little wooded verge opposite the Salt Lake and BUILDING MORE APARTMENTS ON IT.

Grrr ... to me it says that their thinking is 'well they obviously don't want the old ones, let's build some new ones and call them LUXURY apartments and we will be able to say they have a view right across the beautiful salt lake (and we won't bother to mention, nor show in the 'plans' that it will be right next to a huge tract of land that has been turned into an 'unofficial municipal dump') We will do what we always do - product the artist impressions of it showing palm trees, not overflowing wheelie bins and rusted out old cars.'

I've no doubt that the disused army camp will eventually become MORE apartments. And, one day, when they've found somewhere else to dump all the stuff on the tract of land that is an old lorry, bus and tanker graveyard, they will build even more on there too.

It is the case that the apartments nearest the sea with the best views and closest to amenities will probably all be standing empty soon! Unless they can find enough political refugees to fill them all (they are making a huge effort in that direction).

[YFred]

People are foolish to keep opening pubs and such when this market is not growing! Had they bothered to check the statistics that the government provides they would’ve seen that there is NO GROWTH and therefore no potential in grabbing a market share!

If only they would check. Here in Makenzy, all the way along from Makenzy beach to Finicoudes there are apartments up for sale or rent and hundreds are empty. The answer to this seems to have been decided upon.

They have flattened a nice little wooded verge opposite the Salt Lake and BUILDING MORE APARTMENTS ON IT.

Grrr ... to me it says that their thinking is 'well they obviously don't want the old ones, let's build some new ones and call them LUXURY apartments and we will be able to say they have a view right across the beautiful salt lake (and we won't bother to mention, nor show in the 'plans' that it will be right next to a huge tract of land that has been turned into an 'unofficial municipal dump') We will do what we always do - product the artist impressions of it showing palm trees, not overflowing wheelie bins and rusted out old cars.'

I've no doubt that the disused army camp will eventually become MORE apartments. And, one day, when they've found somewhere else to dump all the stuff on the tract of land that is an old lorry, bus and tanker graveyard, they will build even more on there too.

It is the case that the apartments nearest the sea with the best views and closest to amenities will probably all be standing empty soon! Unless they can find enough political refugees to fill them all (they are making a huge effort in that direction).

No don't go round upsetting our GR just because he lives in a dump. He will attack you relentlessly.

[Gasman]

No don't go round upsetting our GR just because he lives in a dump. He will attack you relentlessly.

I think you've lost the plot YFred. If you think my post was in any way an attempt to upset GR?

I was bluddy AGREEING with what he'd said previously.

[Paphitis]

No don't go round upsetting our GR just because he lives in a dump. He will attack you relentlessly.

I think you've lost the plot YFred. If you think my post was in any way an attempt to upset GR?

I was bluddy AGREEING with what he'd said previously.

[Paphitis]

I must agree that tourism is now declining in importance to RoC GDP output. There really is no doubt about that. Cyprus is a very small island and there is only so much tourism it can sustain and I personally believe that it has reached that level already. There are still well over 2.1 million visitors to the island, and this was only a very modest decline from 2.4 million. This decline is obviously as a result of global economic uncertainty and meltdown. It is safe to presume that many countries experienced a modest decline for the exact same reasons.

Cyprus has all the tourists it can handle. Maybe there is room for some expansion, but this would have an undesirable impact on the island's environment. Cyprus is better off developing other industries. Tourism has been flogged to death, and I don't believe we can develop tourism any more that it already has. We are just too small to sustain such mass tourism!

[B25]

Given the current circumstances we have done rather well.

With 37% of our island under illegal military occupation, financial crisis and all that.

You need to remember there are other destination previously unheard of, coming on stream, so it it a constant battle to win the tourist. With 2m + tourists we are doing good. There can never be enough. So hence, the new drive to attract more. Marinas, golf courses, inward investments, upgrades to all areas we are on the up.

So, yes we haven not faired as well as we have hoped recently, by we are by no means dead in the water.

If the Stupid government would restrict tourists to the dark side, I daren't say our figures would be even better.