Ayia Napa's Mayor Christos Zannettou has expressed moderate optimism for the area's tourism sector, adding that until the situation with the war in the Middle East becomes clearer, the Government must rely on the efforts it is making to highlight the fact that Cyprus is a safe tourist destination.
In his statements to CNA, however, Zannettou also spoke of a decrease in April occupancy of approximately 40% along with a reduced flow of reservations.
He added that "unfortunately, the war situation that has been prevailing for some time in the Middle East region is leading the tourism industry in the district of Free Famagusta towards moderate optimism, considering that the decrease in occupancy for April is around 40%."
There are, he noted, "several hotels that remained closed due to low occupancy, but also due to the freezing of reservations by foreign tour operators. As a result, tourist accommodations are postponing the start of their operation to the end of April instead of the beginning of the month when they should have already opened," he said and added that "the problem is unfortunately a given, there are cancellations in arrivals and hotel reservations, which replaces the pre-reservations we had since February for the area of the district of Free Famagusta."
Responding to a question, Zannettou said that "the flow of reservations we have is reduced and we cannot say that the occupancy of hotels, at least in the Ayia Napa area, is satisfactory. The important thing is that the continuation of the war situation in the Middle East will affect the tourism picture until the end of April," he said.
We hope and wish, he continued, "that the negotiations that have begun between the US and Iran will have a positive outcome so that there will be no more cancellations of flights and hotel reservations."
It is now a given that people are no longer concerned with the issue of whether to travel for their holidays to a safe destination like Cyprus, but are examining their financial situation and whether they have the necessary money to go on holiday this year," he noted.
Responding to another question, the Mayor of Ayia Napa said that "we believe that with a possible solution to the crisis, the tourism market will open up and move at least to satisfactory levels. However, since the entire situation is uncertain, citizens are reluctant to proceed with the necessary procedures to 'book' holidays, either alone or with their families, since the economic data they have so far in front of them may worsen."
Asked about the recommendations of certain countries to their citizens not to travel to the Middle East region, due to the unstable situation, Zannettou replied that "essentially the instructions are given by countries, including Britain, that may have interests and there may be a risk of a terrorist attack.
However, it has now become clear that Cyprus has not been targeted, except once at the beginning of the war with the launch of an unmanned aircraft at the British Akrotiri Bases."
He added that "some recommendations made by certain countries to their citizens not to travel to states in our region constitute an additional element that is taken seriously into account by tourists, both for the state where and for the time during which they will spend their vacation."
In his statements, the Mayor of Ayia Napa also referred to the actions that the Municipality is taking in view of the summer season and said that "we are moving forward with our preparations, we are almost ready and we have some work left on the beaches, which will be completed by the end of April.
"Unfortunately, due to the prevailing situation, there are several workers in our region who have not yet started working in the tourism industry and we hope that a solution will soon be found in the war between Iran and the US, so that the tourist season can begin," he said.
At the same time, he continued, "we are moving forward with the cultural events we are planning for the summer both in the Municipality of Ayia Napa and in our Municipal Districts. The prevailing situation has unfortunately forced us to make a small financial adjustment to the costs of the cultural events that were planned, however, we have not made any cancellations."
We appreciate, Zannettou said, "that it would be invalid and pointless to give the message that we are canceling events, especially in Ayia Napa, which is the most well-known tourist destination, which holds the largest cultural events in the region."
He also stated that "we are proceeding with the normal preparation of the Municipality in view of the summer season, certainly within the framework of financial consolidation where and where we can. Taking into account that Ayia Napa is a 90% tourist Municipality, it seems to be affected by the economic crisis that prevails due to the war situation", he said, and noted that "the consequences of the crisis are chain-like and will affect all the Municipalities of Cyprus, while at the same time there will be major problems, among others, in food importers and the construction sector".
Asked whether the Municipality of Ayia Napa will cooperate with the Municipality of Paralimni - Deryneia, with the aim of coordinating their actions to attract tourism to the region, Zannettou replied that "this is done through the Famagusta Tourism Development and Promotion Company (ETAP), which undertakes such efforts. We understand that the issue is not local, but national, and the important thing is how tourism will recover for the whole of Cyprus, since the situation prevailing in the Middle East is affecting the entire island, as a destination."
"We are all making efforts to support those of the Government for the security of Cyprus and to send the message that our country is a safe tourist destination," he noted.
(Source: CNA)
