Cyprus-Forum.com

[Great White]

All attempts to attract "better quality tourism" has failed in Cyprus because :

a) the island is very expensive
b) the service generally sucks
c) the relationship price / quality is not good enough
d) people working in store/shops are rather unfriendly

Now, let's take the Londa hotel in Limassol for instance. They re-opened last summer (2005) and their bar started to be quite busy... what did they do ? Increase their prices by almost 40 %.... and lost basically all of their clientele ! Well done !

Cypriots do not know how to make money. I am not blaming them. It's something one has to learn. Cyprus is used to easy money. The Lebanese taught them how to run hotels (either badly taught them or Cypriots did not learn well when I see the result ). Cyprus being what it is, they did not have to really work too hard to attract tourist. Then they fully took advantages of having offshore companies whose only reasons to be in Cyprus was the "tax free" system. Welcoming Russian money launderers with open arms was the third step in the "Cypriot Handbook of Easy Money Making".

Cyprus never really developped a proper and efficient tourism industry, or any industry for that purpose. The hotels/banks/insurances never really invested in proper training. As much as I think that tourists should adapt to the local mentality outside of their hotel, I also think that within the hotel premises, the tourists must feel at home. From a pure commercial point of view, service in many sectors in Cyprus is very bad to very rude. And for the most part rather unprofessional. They are exceptions of course but it's a trend.

Now, with Cyprus being in the EU and making it (more) difficult for Russians and Lebanese to obtain visas, I don't understand how one can say that British tourists will not be missed. They might not be missed by the periptero owners or the taverna owners in Lofou, fair enough, but the economy of the island would suffer even more without them. Don't be fooled, the hotels in Cyprus could not live without the English tourists.

I am very well off, thank you, but living in Cyprus is as expensive as living in Switzerland ! No joke ! Shopping even at E&S is almost as expensive as in Switzerland : coca-cola, shampoo, pasta, etc.... what is a bit cheaper is meat and vegatables. Eating out is in most places as expensive as in Switzerland and the quality is not always on par (try to find a good pizza in Cyprus... fortunately I love local food)(maybe say 15 % less expensive in cash... which when you think about the local averge income makes it more expensive for the locals to live in Cyprus than for the Swiss to live in Switzerland).

Friends of mine wanted to visit me at a time when I could not welcome them to my home and had to book an hotel.... for the price of one week in Cyprus they can spend 15 days in Spain !!! Do the math.

Cyprus will suffer from the entry in the EU. I don't think a lot of Europeans/tourists will come over. Secondly, with the introduciton of the EURO prices will go up (but not wages) as in every other EU country (see Greece, Germany or France). Then, Cyprus will have to find a way to compensate for the loss of revenue yielded by the shipping industry that will no longer want to have Cypriot flagged vessels due to stricter regulations. Dirty money laundered in Cyprus will have to be compensated for as well.

The island is faced with tremendous challenges in the five years to come. Unless there will be a change in the mentalities (at least working wise), I fear there will be very tough times ahead.

That's the sad reality of life. I personally would love this globalisation to stop. At least as it is currently going, i.e by trying to make everyone look/think the same. Differences between people is important and should not disappear.

Being more polite and educated (not in the academic sense) is not wanting everyone to be the same. It is just common courtesy. Like saying "thank you"... to which I am rarely replied "You're welcome" in Limassol shops...

[doglover]

I went into a supermarket once to buy a cold can of coffee as soon as the store opened (around 8 am), and as I went to pay, the girl at the till put my drink in a plastic bag along with the receipt. I took the receipt out of the bag, as this is what I usually do when buying only one item. The rude Cypriot girl behind the till then proceeded to slam the receipt back in the carrier bag. So once again, I took the receipt out, and put it back on the counter. I told her off, and said that if she didn't like her job, or the low wages she was getting, that she should not be working there. I later explained that those customers who spend a fortune on groceries at that particular store do not deserve that kind of treatment in return. I was finding it very difficult to keep my calm. She said nothing... she just looked at me in disgust, and kept quiet.

Another time... I was at the opticians in Woolworth (now Debenhams) looking at some glasses, and the shop assistant was on the phone with her friend for 20 minutes while I patiently waited for her assistance. I even walked up to the counter and looked straight at her, but she looked straight through me and continued to talk to her friend on the phone.

So... when she finally closed the phone, I asked her about a particular brand of sunglasses that I wanted to buy. She simply said "I don't know"
I asked her why I had to wait for 20 minutes, while she rudely spoke to her friend on her mobile phone. I said it was very rude, and like the arrogant child she was, she gave me an evil stare and said "tsk" before turning her back to me.

Some people here just don't have any social skills. I make the odd joke with people, and they look at me strangely... almost as if they don't have a sense of humour.

And don't get me started on how rude and arrogant these drivers can be.

[anastasiaC]

doglover - u sound like u spend half your time over there arguing....

[ausbroker]

i rekon you should keep telling em off and dont give in to there bullcrap.if someone is rude to you be rude back, play there game

[cyprus4ever]

well consideration for others has never been a cypriot trait, now has it????

Why do people always have to bring racism into it by mocking the cypriots and if you are english then you can't talk at all...

[Piratis]

Great White, Cyprus and Cypriots (in Cyprus and abroad) have achieved many things.

Today Cyprus is very close to western Europe in terms standards of living.

Cyprus has suffered an invasion and occupation of 1/3rd of its more productive land (60% of the islands resources are occupied) and we have to deal with 1/3rd of our population being refugees.

In contrast most of the western countries that we are compared to had been colonial powers and became rich by exploiting foreign lands and people.

Therefore under the circumstances Cyprus has achieved more than it was expected.

Regarding the people, Cypriots on average are not more rude as you are trying to present it. Personally I prefer to get a honest smile and a shake of head instead of a cold fake "You are Welcome" by somebody that doesn't mean it.

Cypriots in general are more true and can show their true emotions as opposed to northern Europeans who can be very fake and cold.

[unique_earthling]

walk a mile in my shoes.......

[Great White]

Great White, Cyprus and Cypriots (in Cyprus and abroad) have achieved many things.

Today Cyprus is very close to western Europe in terms standards of living.

Cyprus has suffered an invasion and occupation of 1/3rd of its more productive land (60% of the islands resources are occupied) and we have to deal with 1/3rd of our population being refugees.

In contrast most of the western countries that we are compared to had been colonial powers and became rich by exploiting foreign lands and people.

Therefore under the circumstances Cyprus has achieved more than it was expected.

Regarding the people, Cypriots on average are not more rude as you are trying to present it. Personally I prefer to get a honest smile and a shake of head instead of a cold fake "You are Welcome" by somebody that doesn't mean it.

Cypriots in general are more true and can show their true emotions as opposed to northern Europeans who can be very fake and cold.

That's an interesting comment. Would you mind elaborating a bit. First can you tell me what have Cypriots achieved ? (Sarcastic tone turned off). Your standards must be different than mine and I'd be interested to have a different view on this subject.

Now about Cyprus being close to the Western world standards, I am sorry but I have to disagree. You are far away from these standards and the fact of being in the EU makes no difference. Lebanon and Dubai, for instance, are much closer to Western world standards than Cyprus. The economical network, the attitude, the entreprenurial spirit, the education, the infrastructure, etc.

What do you mean by "we have to deal with 1/3 of our population being refugees". Where does it harm Cyprus ? Those people are Greek Cypriots ? You mean it cost Cyprus a lot in subvention to help these people ?

We'll have to disagree on Cypriots not being rude. In average, they are much more rude than any other population I have been in contact with through my living abroard and/or travelling. I have never been as rudely treated (of course not everywhere) as I have been here... petrol stations, bookstores, peripteros, supermarket, bakery, restaurants, you name it... I have been in about 30 coutries so far (including several in Africa) and I never had someone speaking over the phone privately while I am waiting to buy some stuff.

[Piratis]

That's an interesting comment. Would you mind elaborating a bit. First can you tell me what have Cypriots achieved ?

Cypriots have achieved to create a modern democratic state that meets all the EU standards. On an individual level, Cypriot businessmen own companies that have expanded to Europe (especially eastern Europe) and some of them are very successful in other countries. (some of the richest men in the UK are Cypriots for example)

What do you mean by "we have to deal with 1/3 of our population being refugees". Where does it harm Cyprus ? Those people are Greek Cypriots ? You mean it cost Cyprus a lot in subvention to help these people ?

We had to build homes and support refugees that are 1/3rd of our total population. Cyprus lost 1/3rd of its land and 60% of its resources. You can't see how this greatly harms Cyprus? After the invasion analysts predicted the Cyprus would need decades just to recover and get back where it was before 74. What we have achieved was called by others (and not us) a miracle.

Now about Cyprus being close to the Western world standards, I am sorry but I have to disagree. You are far away from these standards and the fact of being in the EU makes no difference. Lebanon and Dubai, for instance, are much closer to Western world standards than Cyprus. The economical network, the attitude, the entreprenurial spirit, the education, the infrastructure, etc.

You can disagree with me and have your subjective opinion. However the facts are not what you want to believe.

Have a look here:

http://hdr.undp.org/reports/global/2005 ... 05_HDI.pdf

This is the human development index which ranks countries based on several different factors such as GDP per capita, literacy rate, life expectancy etc. Cyprus is ranked 29th. The first Arab country is ranked 40th and Lebanon is ranked 81st.

We'll have to disagree on Cypriots not being rude. In average, they are much more rude than any other population I have been in contact with through my living abroard and/or travelling.

Thats again your subjective opinion. I have traveled to many countries as well and I disagree with you.