Paschalides: Russian tourism to Cyprus on an upward trend

Russian tourism in Cyprus will significantly increase during this and the coming years estimated today Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Antonis Paschalides.

Paschalides, who wrapped up yesterday a three day visit to Moscow, where he met top tourism agents and officials said that “by August 31st Russian visitors to Cyprus had reached 157.000, marking an increase of 50% comparing with the same period last year”.
By the end of the year the increase is expected to hit the 60% mark, he said.

He added that the establishment of three more Cyprus Consulates in the large cities Samara, Yekaterinburg and Krasnodar in combination with a coordinated policy of development of the Cypriot tourist product within the Russian periphery as well as the specialization of the product to appeal to large groups of Russians such as religious and athletic tourism are expected to boost efforts.

Russia is Cyprus’ second best client after Britain, said Cyprus Tourism Organisation (COT) General Manager Lefkos Phylaktides, adding that Russian tourists spend an average of 900 Euro per head as opposed to 600 Euro per head spent by British tourists.

Another factor which seems to be taken greatly into consideration is the expected increase in flights between Russia and Cyprus throughout the year.

Russian company “Transaero airlines” has already requested a permit to that effect and is scheduling to multiply its flights to Paphos during winter, whilst flights to Larnaca will also record an increase from 4 to 7 per week from November through to March.