Marginal to last year's levels, it is estimated that performance will fluctuate during this summer season
By Apostolos Tomaras
Tourist traffic is moving at satisfactory levels this year despite the unstable geopolitical factors in the Middle East. The ongoing climate of tension in neighboring Israel, as well as the threats to generalize the hostilities, do not seem to leave a negative mark on summer season tourism, which in terms of arrivals is moving slightly above last year's performance. The same performance was recorded by the income from tourism until last May, a development that is considered positive. Tourism professionals are satisfied with the strength of the tourism product of Cyprus, estimating that this year will close at the same level as 2023. The estimates of the tourism industry players are also supported by the available data, which in almost all categories show the general trend that will prevail during this year's tourist season. Despite the initial caution due to the hostilities in the Middle East, the conclusion drawn is that the tourist stream that chooses Cyprus has changed its behavior in relation to similar incidents in the past, as noted by the president of travel agents, Haris Papacharalambous, in “K”. Those who appear less optimistic are the hoteliers, who, despite the high occupancy rates recorded by the Cypriot tourist units, continue to worry about the impact on the Cypriot summer from the possibility of the generalization of the crisis in the Middle East.
Air traffic
Based on official data, up until last month no negative variation in the number of arrivals was recorded. On the contrary, even slightly, passenger arrivals in Cyprus increased by 1.45% compared to the corresponding period of 2023. Passenger traffic shows no signs of being affected by the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, with the Cyprus region remaining, among others, a safe passenger bridge for tourist and other purposes. Travel agents believe that even the remaining tourist season will not differ dramatically from the existing indicators that show 1,496,715 passenger arrivals from Larnaca and Paphos airports. As the figures for this year show, the United Kingdom, Greece, Poland, Israel and Germany remain the main markets for the Cypriot tourism product, presenting the highest passenger traffic over time for the period January – July, with an increase of of 4.42% compared to 2023. The movement of aircraft to and from Cypriot airports is also moving upwards (10,226 flights) registering an increase of 2.8% compared to 2023.
Reservations
The satisfaction expressed by tourism agents for 2024 is also reflected in the occupancy rates of tourist units for the current month. According to a report by the electronic “K”, the availability of accommodation, according to data from the platform “Booking com” for the month of August, is very limited. Indicatively for the period from August 8 to August 31 in Protaras the occupancy rate reaches 99%, followed by Ayia Napa, Paphos and Larnaca with an occupancy rate of 98%. With reference to the mountainous areas, occupancy in Kakopetria has risen to 96% for this period, with Limassol following at 91%. In Paphos, professionals in the field of catering and entertainment state that they are satisfied with the tourist traffic, even with markets with particularities in this period, such as that of Israel. The president of the Federation of Associations of Catering and Entertainment Centers Fitos Thrasyvoulos appears cautious for the next period in the event that hostilities in neighboring Israel extend to Lebanon and last.
Income
For in the first two months of the summer there are no figures available for the revenue part. However, in the first months of 2024 an increase of more than 11% was recorded compared to 2023. The latest figures for the month of May show that the per capita expenditure of tourists amounts to €736.82 compared to €740.36 in May 2023 , registering a slight decrease of 0.5%. British tourists (the largest tourist market with 39.8% of all tourists in May 2024) spent an average of €83.18 per day, while Israeli tourists (the second largest tourist market during the given month with 7.9% of the total) spent an average of €161.66. Tourists from Poland (third largest market with 7.6%), spent €86.40 per day. At high levels are the Austrians with €108.89 per day, the Belgians with €122.63, the Swiss with €144.88, the French with €104.09 and the Germans with €112.42.
