Cyprus records decrease in nights spent at hotels

Cyprus has recorded one of the highest decreases in the EU as regards the number of nights spent in hotels in 2009. According to Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union, the largest decreases in the number of nights spent in hotels in 2009 were recorded in Latvia (-23.3%), Lithuania (-20.4%), Cyprus(-19.7%) and Slovakia (-18.1%), and the smallest in Germany (-1.4%), the United Kingdom (-1.7%), Slovenia (-2.1%) and Austria (-2.9%).
Amongst the Member States, the highest numbers of nights spent in hotels in 2009 were recorded in Spain (251 million nights, -6.5% compared with 2008), Italy (238 mn, -4.3%), Germany (216 mn, -1.4%), France (191 mn, -5.6%) and the United Kingdom (170 mn, -1.7%). These five countries accounted for more than 70% of the total number of hotel nights in the EU27. The number of nights spent in hotels in 2009 fell in all Member States, except Sweden (+0.1%).
The number of nights spent in hotels and other tourist establishments reached in 2009 11,5 million in Cyprus, 10,2 million of which were tourists and 1,2 million local residents.
In comparison to 2008, this is a decrease of 19.7%, while the EU average was 5.1%.
Regarding tourists, the decrease reached 21.9% in comparison to 2008. On the other hand, tourism from local residents recorded an increase of 5.1%.
In 2009, non-residents accounted for 44% of the total number of nights spent in hotels in the EU27 compared with 56% for residents.
Apart from the two Mediterranean islands, Malta (96%) and Cyprus (89%), the highest proportions of non-residents were registered in Latvia (73%), Greece and Austria (both 72%).
The lowest proportions of non-residents were recorded in Romania (15%), Germany (20%), Sweden (24%), Finland (27%) and Poland (30%).
The highest numbers of hotel nights spent by non-residents were registered in Spain (142 mln, -8.9% compared with 2008), Italy (102 mln, -7.5%), France (64 mln, -11.1%), the United Kingdom (59 mln, -7.8%) and Austria (58 mln, -4.6%), while for residents the highest levels were observed in Germany (173 mln, -0.6%), Italy (135 mln, -1.9%), France (127 mln, -2.5%), the United Kingdom (111 mln, +2.2%) and Spain (109 mln, -3.1%).