Greece remains top choice, with Rhodes, Crete and Skiathos in highest demand thanks to direct flights from Cyprus.
"For four days in Protaras they asked us for €2,500. With that money I'd rather take the children and go to Greece." If you have not said it yourself, you have most likely heard it from friends, relatives or colleagues in recent weeks. For those who left the planning of their summer holidays to the last minute, as we Cypriots tend to do, the dilemma "Cyprus or abroad?" is even more intense this year. Available options shrink as August 15 approaches, the period many prefer for their holidays, prices rise, and many families are trying to find the solution that best fits their budget.
Despite the continuing squeeze on the cost of living, the travel market appears to be maintaining its momentum. Greececontinues to be the most popular destination for Cypriots, while this year increased interest is also recorded for European countries, mainly those that still maintain lower prices, with quite a few setting aside more distant journeys.
Europe gains ground
"We cannot say the market is bad. We are at roughly the same levels as last year," the press spokesman of the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA), Antonis Orthodoxou, told Politis. As he explained, the main differentiation concerns travellers' choices. Where last year many opted for more distant destinations, this year a turn towards Europe is being observed, both for financial reasons and because of the uncertainty prevailing in the Middle East.
Rhodes, Crete, Skiathos
At the top of preferences remains Greece, with Rhodes, Crete and Skiathos gathering the greatest demand, mainly because they are served by direct flights from Cyprus. "Wherever there are direct flights, we see greater demand." As for other European destinations, beyond the traditional choices such as Paris and Italy, increased interest is being recorded this year for Poland and Romania, where prices are noticeably lower for a short trip, according to the ACTA spokesman.
A little more expensive
Asked about the prices of the packages on offer, and whether they have been significantly affected by fuel price increases due to the war, he said they are "a little more expensive than last year, but not by much". He noted that the final price depends on the hotel, the dates, the category of accommodation and, of course, how early the booking was made.
Economical organised packages still exist on the market, starting from as little as €399. For five-day holidays in Greece, prices start from €469 for Rhodes, €499 for Crete, €539 for Skiathos, €569 for Parga, €589 for Lefkada, €629 for Syvota, €649 for Preveza and €679 for Santorini.
Correspondingly, among European destinations, a five-day trip to Warsaw starts from €755, an eight-day excursion to Romania from €995 and five days in Paris from €1,145. For those choosing family holidays in Paris and Disneyland, prices start from around €1,499 per person, including air tickets, accommodation, transfers, a Seine cruise and entry to the Disney parks.
Bed and breakfast
Although all inclusive packages remain particularly popular in many markets, among them Cyprus for foreign tourists arriving through travel agents, Cypriots travelling to the Greek islands prefer a different style of holiday. As Orthodoxou explained, they mainly choose accommodation with breakfast, so they have the opportunity to get to know the destination, visit different beaches and sample the local gastronomy, instead of spending the whole day inside the hotel.
Is Cyprus more expensive?
To our question of whether holidays in Cyprus ultimately cost more than a trip abroad, a question that returns every summer, there is no single answer that applies to all cases, according to Orthodoxou. "This year we had losses from the British market, with the result that quite a few offers came out from hotels, especially in the areas of free Famagusta. I do not think it holds generally that Cyprus is more expensive than abroad," he told Politis.
Four days in Protaras or Paphos over August 15
Nevertheless, a small survey on online platforms shows that staying at a hotel in Cyprus in August comes at considerably higher prices.
In the Politis survey for a family of four with a four-night stay over August 15, just 24 properties appeared available, while around 97 per cent of accommodation was already fully booked. Available options started from around €654 for an apartment, while for hotels with breakfast prices ranged from roughly €1,500 to €2,600. In all inclusive packages the cost exceeded €1,900, reaching as much as €5,879 for a four-day stay, a fact that demonstrates both the increased demand and the wide fluctuations in prices depending on the property and the amenities.
In Paphos, the Politis survey for a family of four and a four-night stay over August 15 shows the wide divergence in prices. The most economical options start from around €482 to €593 for apartments, while hotels with breakfast typically range from around €900 to €1,400. In higher-category units the cost climbs from around €1,600 to €2,600, while in all inclusive packages prices reach from around €2,370 to beyond €3,100. In certain luxury seafront hotels, a four-day family stay exceeds even €3,600, confirming that the final cost depends to a great extent on the category of accommodation and the amenities included.
There is no last minute
In any case, those who waited until the last moment to secure a big offer are unlikely to be vindicated. "For August 15 there is essentially no last minute. Most popular destinations are already full," Orthodoxou told Politis. As he noted, those who booked their holidays early achieved better prices, while those searching now for available packages have very limited options.
Occupancy at 80% in Famagusta, noticeably lower than last year
Tourist traffic in the free Famagusta district is down this year, though the picture has been gradually improving through July. As the president of the Famagusta branch of the Cyprus Hotel Association (Pasyxe), Panayiotis Constantinou, told Politis, this year's season began with significant losses, which affected both hotels and the businesses that depend on tourist spending. "We certainly have reduced traffic," he said, noting that the greatest losses were recorded at the start of the period. "March and April were catastrophic for our district. May was somewhat better but still down, while in June the decrease was in the range of 12 to 15 per cent," he said.
The situation, according to him, has now improved, with average hotel occupancy in July standing at around 80 per cent. Last year, in the same period, the average ranged between roughly 90 and 95 per cent. For August he appeared more optimistic, as last-minute bookings continue and there is increased traffic from the Cypriot market.
Locals in August too
"I believe August will move at quite good levels. We have plenty of bookings from our compatriots and that is very positive," he said, adding that several hotels proceeded with offers and better prices in an effort to attract more Cypriots.
Where this year's tourists came from
The greatest losses are recorded from France and Switzerland, while decreases are also shown by Norway, the Netherlands, Romania, Sweden, Austria and Germany. There is a small drop from the United Kingdom as well, which nevertheless remains the region's most significant market due to its large volume of visitors.
"The United Kingdom, despite showing a small decrease, is the market supporting this year," he said. Poland remains steady and is developing into a significant emerging market, particularly for the Famagusta district.
At the start of the season, certain properties delayed opening due to limited bookings. However, as he explained, these cases were not many. "The hoteliers made the sacrifice of opening, even at a loss, to support the effort and to show that the area is open," he noted.
Restrained spending
Greater pressure was felt by businesses that depend directly on tourist spending, such as shops, restaurants, spas and water sports operators. Visitors who arrived through last-minute bookings appeared more restrained in their purchases and consumption, according to Constantinou. Asked about prices more generally, he maintained that there were more competitive offers, while stressing that hotels face increased operating costs. "All goods, fuel and energy are up. Despite that, hotels tried to keep their prices more attractive," he said.
He avoided, however, the generalisation that Cyprus is more expensive than other destinations, pointing out that comparisons must be made between hotels of similar quality. "When we compare good hotels in Greece with corresponding hotels in Cyprus, we will not necessarily find the Cypriot units more expensive," he said.
A decisive factor in this year's downturn, according to him, was the sense of insecurity created by developments in the Middle East. At the start of the crisis, cancellations reached around 25 to 30 per cent. "The damage was done because Cyprus was on the front pages for several days," he said. Only a small percentage of those who cancelled later proceeded with a new booking, as most appear to have chosen another destination.
