By Georgia Channi and Vassos Vasou
Tourism activity at hotels and restaurants has improved significantly ahead of the Assumption Day holiday and as the summer holiday season enters its peak, although levels have not yet reached those recorded during the same period last year.
As every year, the coastal areas are proving the most popular destinations, with tourist accommodation in Ayia Napa and Protaras expected to be almost fully booked.
"August is moving at satisfactory levels, although it is slightly below the levels of August last year," Cyprus Hoteliers Association (PASYXE) President Yiannos Pantazis told Politis.
"What we are observing are last-minute bookings, both from abroad and from Cypriots who are taking advantage of hotel packages and offers available through hotel websites."
Regarding the Assumption Day holiday, Pantazis said that there is still availability in some hotels, encouraging people to visit hotel websites or contact establishments directly.
"In general, the situation in hotels has improved, although the losses of previous months have not yet been fully offset," he stressed, estimating that for the year as a whole, the decline in bookings will be around 10 per cent.
"For some hotel units, bookings are satisfactory, for some very satisfactory and for others excellent," Cyprus Tourism Enterprises Association (STEK) President Akis Vavlitis told Politis, noting that August always attracts increased interest, particularly from Cypriot travellers.
He added that while the booking gaps of previous months have been filled, this has not translated into a corresponding recovery in business revenues.
Stronger demand for mountain resorts
Activity is also significantly higher in both the coastal areas and mountain resorts, according to Fanos Leventis, Secretary-General of the Association of Recreation Centre Owners.
However, he noted that visits to mountain destinations are generally shorter than in previous years.
According to Leventis, Kakopetria and Platres remain the leading mountain destinations, although there is also considerable interest in other areas such as Pedoulas and Kalopanayiotis.
Occupancy levels approaching 100%
Demand is running at particularly impressive levels in the Famagusta district, where hotels and tourist accommodation in Ayia Napa are expected to be almost fully booked over the next few weeks.
The increased flow of Cypriot visitors, combined with rapidly continuing last-minute bookings, has created an exceptionally positive picture in recent weeks, with occupancy levels approaching 100 per cent.
The particularly high occupancy rates are expected to continue throughout the Assumption Day holiday period and until approximately 20-25 August, benefiting not only hotels but also other businesses operating in the tourism sector.
Panayiotis Constantinou, President of PASYXE Famagusta, told Politis that tourism activity in the district is currently performing quite well.
According to him, this is largely due to the increased number of Cypriot visitors who, especially this year, have provided a significant boost to the local economy, as well as continuing last-minute bookings coming mainly from the United Kingdom, Israel and Scandinavian countries.
As he explained, last-minute bookings are arriving at a much faster pace than in previous years and, as a result, average hotel occupancy in Ayia Napa and Protaras is expected to range between 90 and 95 per cent over the next two to three weeks.
Constantinou added that strong air connectivity has helped meet growing demand from visitors across various markets.
He also noted that cancellations have ceased since the beginning of August, with conditions now appearing considerably more stable than those seen during April, May and June.
Referring to July, the Famagusta hoteliers' association president said the month performed at quite satisfactory levels.
"Occupancy may not have reached last year's figures for the corresponding month, but tourism revenues were approximately at the same levels," he said.
September and October outlook
At the same time, booking levels for accommodation in Ayia Napa and Protaras remain satisfactory heading into September.
Constantinou noted that there is still room for improvement, particularly given expectations that last-minute bookings will continue during the autumn period.
"We believe that the same pattern of last-minute bookings will continue in September," he underlined.
With regard to October, he said it is still too early to draw firm conclusions, although there remains considerable availability because booking levels have not yet reached the desired point.
Pantazis similarly noted that booking activity for September and October is running below the levels recorded during the corresponding months last year, while expressing hope that last-minute demand will fill part of the gap.
Vavlitis, meanwhile, said that for September, October and, for some businesses, even November, booking patterns have returned to normal.
Businesses continue to face pressures
At the same time, despite increased tourist activity, businesses in the sector continue to face significant pressures.
According to Leventis:
"Per-capita spending has declined among both Cypriot and foreign visitors due to the financial pressures people are facing, while at the same time operating expenses for businesses have increased."
He added that although enormous efforts were made by both the private sector and the state to minimise losses caused by the geopolitical crisis, Cyprus should have used that period to improve its tourism product.
"We need to review our policy and stop placing so much emphasis on arrival numbers, because they do not reflect the real situation."
Vavlitis also believes the sector will end the year under financial pressure.
"The year will close with losses," he said, adding that attention should increasingly turn towards 2027.
