TOURISM: Cyprus hopes to maintain 4-million tourists level for 2019

Minister for Tourism Savvas Perdios said Cyprus is aiming to maintain the same numbers of tourists as in the previous year with the right marketing and joint efforts by all stakeholders in the tourism industry.

"With joint efforts we will be at the same levels as last year," he told Cyprus News Agency after the conclusion of his contacts at the ITB Tourism Fair in Berlin.

Cyprus recorded the highest ever number of tourist arrivals in 2018, approaching 4 million, and with revenues that exceeded 2.7 bln euros.

Perdios said that all stakeholders in tourism are trying to give incentives in order to maintain the same numbers in 2019.

He said the high increase of the previous years would not be normal to continue, especially with rival markets Egypt and Turkey expecting an increased number of tourists this year.

If Cyprus “manages to maintain the same numbers this year, it means that our numbers in the previous years have not been coincidental”. 

In relation to Russia, one of Cyprus biggest tourist markets, Perdios said that the rouble has fallen compared to last year and that Russian tourists can find very cheaper prices from competitor countries as  Egypt, Turkey, Tunisia and Morocco.

He also said that marketing was very important in promoting the country abroad and that the effort must be continuous, especially among younger tourists who know nothing about the country.

Asked about the ITB Tourism Fair in Berlin, he estimates that it would be a difficult year regarding the German market, due to the economic instability that has started to affect Germany and the bankruptcy of airline Germania.

He also said that the messages from the German market were more positive  for 2020.