President Demetris Christofias has described 2009 as probably the most difficult year in the history of Cyprus tourism, due to the global financial crisis which has affected many countries from which the island attracts tourists.
For that reason, there is an urgent need to “restructure and reshape” the services provided in the tourism sector.
Addressing the Cyprus Hoteliers Association (PASYXE) annual meeting on Tuesday, President Christofias said that from the beginning of the year to May 15, tourist arrivals were down 9.8%, compared to last year’s figures.
He emphasised the need to address the near-dependence of the tourism industry on a handful of countries which traditionally supply Cyprus with tourists.
“As a result of the global financial crisis – including job losses and a drop in businesses in various fields – summer vacation is probably not a high priority for everybody,” he noted.
For Cyprus, however, a country where tourism is very importance, it is necessary to make a collective effort to achieve the best possible results and maintain our share in the world and especially the European tourist market, he added.
Christofias said that for his administration, the tourism industry remains a high priority, noting that in 2008 the government had earmarked 4.5 mln euros for winter tourism with good results.
“The common objective is to upgrade the quality of the tourist product and maintain its competitiveness. We also have to restructure and reshape the services we offer,” he said.
From the beginning of this year until mid-May, the number of tourist arrivals has so far reached 526,793 compared with 584,335 in 2008, a decrease of 9.8%.
President Christofias said that the figures of the first four months suggest that each tourist is spending more this year than the year before, marking an increase from 628 to 643 euros per head, with a total revenue growth of 2.8%.
“Our strategic goal is a more dynamic and effective promotion of Cyprus, enhancing our tourist product and upgrading services offered,” he said and appealed to Cypriots to take advantage of special deals and spend their summer holidays this year at home.
The President of the Hoteliers Association Haris Loizides, in his address at the AGM, appealed to everybody to “look to the future and not to today or yesterday.”
“Let us approach this financial crisis with an open mind, look at it as an opportunity and with a disposition for changes which will lay sound foundations for tourism in tomorrow’s Cyprus,” he said.
Those who are prepared for the end of the crisis, he added, will be able to meet the new challenges and benefit from them.
He called on the government to start planning from now and announce, in conjunction with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, measures to support the tourist industry in good time, including for 2010.
CTO Chairman Panos Egglezos said efforts to promote, restructure, diversify and enhance the island’s tourist industry continue.
He said the CTO has acted in time and decisively to contain the fallout from the world economic crisis, through tactical advertising and targeted campaigns. He also called for adjustment to the demands of the tourists from specific countries, in food, entertainment and special preferences.
New CHA board, Loizides re-elected
Haris Loizides was re-elected president of the association for the three-year term 2009-2012. The other members of the executive leadership are Andreas Tsokkos (1st vice president), Nicos Nicolaides (2nd vice president), Jason Perdios (secretary) and Pantelis Leptos (treasurer).
The other members of the board are Chr. Constantinou (Nicosia district president), I. Pieri (Larnaca district president), Chr. Koitazos (Famagusta district president), Th. Philippides (Paphos district president), N. Matheou (president of rural hoteliers), St. Mandridis (president of refugee hoteliers), Ch. Theocharous, M. Panayi, K. Zervos, A. Kapetanios, M. Kounnas, A. Constantinou, Evr. Loizides, M. Mavroudes, A. Michaelidou, St. Panayiotou and A. Chryssafinis.
