Pyrpolizer
Secondly you want direct flights in TRashNcan for what? To subsidise the (against EU law) at so low rates as to flood the place with cheap tourists. To put them where? On hotels built on stolen Greek Cypriot land. To achieve what? To destroy whatever good name the GCs have created in tourism all over Europe and to destroy the high class and expensive tourism we the GCs managed to make Cyprus as a destination. Yes we made Cyprus an expensive and quality destination.
And to finally achieve what? The total distraction of our Tourist Industry, the complete sale of our stolen properties in the occupied, and the final partition.
Do you remember the above quote?
this guy doesnt seem to agree with you...
Cyprus has priced itself out of the market
Sir,
Having woken to read the headline on your website 'cheap flights will destroy tourism' (February 11), I felt compelled to write.
As a UK Cypriot currently studying in the UK, I have the benefit of seeing both sides of this argument.
But I feel compelled to ask: does the Cyprus government have ANY idea of how expensive Cyprus has become as a holiday destination?
Following the demise of Helios, there was a huge gap in the market for cheap air travel to the island. This has now been taken up with XL airways Flyglobespan and Monarch airlines.
I do not agree with the statements reported in your newspaper from the conference, simply because it’s ludicrous to suggest that making cheap flights available to people will have a detrimental effect on the hotel industry. Not everyone can afford the prices of package holidays to the island. I saw an offer for Cyprus yesterday for £399 per person for one week self catering for May. Compare this to £439 for a week in Antigua half board, and you’ll see why people are looking elsewhere. Why pay £400 for a trip to Cyprus when I can pay an extra £39 and fly to the other side of the world?
Simply complaining about the lack of tourism, and pushing the prices up to compensate for this loss is not a solution.
UK tour companies have now joined in complaining that low cost carriers are destroying the tourism. They offer low cost seats to CY as well, so how does that make them different to the budget airlines? They are also the ones responsible for the price increases in the UK. The problem I believe firmly lies in the marketing of the island as a holiday or family resort.
Cyprus must wake up and realise that it’s being pushed out of the market by destinations far away which are much more exotic and cost less to get to. It’s not doing enough to promote the island. I met a couple and their daughter some two weeks back, who had visited Cyprus last year and will never go again. The holiday cost them £1,800 for a week in a three-star hotel with flights, and they found the fact they had to pay £3-4 pounds per drink in Protaras and Ayia Napa ridiculous. I agree with them completely. The amount they paid was ridiculously high, even by Cyprus standards!
It takes a lot more to get people to Cyprus nowadays. Posters on the sides of buses, TV ads, and sunshine can no longer be used as reasons for coming to our beautiful island. That’s no different to any other resort.
I always fly budget airlines to Cyprus because I find Cyprus airways and British Airways prices extortionate. In order to fly back to Cyprus at Easter, I am going through a European city, which has worked out £134 pounds cheaper than flying direct with Cyprus Airways. The choice is there if people are prepared to look for it
Cyprus has outpriced itself from the market. It’s as simple as that. Cyprus must realise that it’s a Mediterranean resort which is currently charging long haul travel prices!
John Traynor
Bournemouth, UK
Total number of tourists to visit the south last year was 2,400,924 down on 2005 which was 2 ,470,063.....make you own conclusion to whos telling porkies, dont think you need us to ruin your tourism think you are doing a good job on your own.
