The Cyprus Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEV) has called on the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides to step up measures the government has announced to boost the tourist industry, as tourist arrivals in the first five months of the year decline.

Figures released by OEV show that tourist arrivals in the first five months of 2009 declined by 9.9, compared with the corresponding period of 2008 and by 8.7% compared with the first five months of 2007.

Tourist income in the first four months of 2009 declined by 7.5% from 251 million euro in 2008 to 232.4 million euro, while in real numbers income declined by 8.4% given the fact that Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 0.9%.

Tourist income reduction appears slightly lower than tourist arrivals since the average stay on the island has increased from 9.46 days to 9.68, leading to a small increase in expenditure per person by 1.3%.

OEV has asked the Minister to ensure that measures the government has announced in a bid to boost tourism remain in force until April 2010. OEV also requested that measures such as incentives to withdraw low class accommodation be speeded up.
CNA/CS/GS/MM/2009