CYPRUS: Paphos winter tourism hit by Thomas Cook collapse

Despite Cyprus containing the fallout from the collapse of UK tour operator Thomas Cook, Paphos has taken a huge hit with a majority (64%) of hotels shutting down for the winter season.

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While winter tourism has been picking up over the past few years, Paphos seems to be going into lockdown as 68 out of 106 hotels are to close.

Last winter season just 37 hotels had closed, an indication of Paphos’ tourism being dependent on the UK market.

In the winter months of 2018-2019, 66 of the 103 hotels remained open, while in 2017-2018, 55 out of 102 had remained operational.

The winter season of 2016-2017 saw 47 out of 100 Paphos hotels remaining open, while during the winter season of 2015-2016, 37 out of a 100 licensed hotel units opened for business.

Meanwhile, a majority of Limassol hotels will remain open, with their number increased significantly.

According to data presented by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, 46 out the town’s 60 hotels will remain operational, while last season saw only 34 out of 59 keeping their doors open.

In the Famagusta region most of the hotels usually close for the winter but a few more are staying open this year — 20 out 182, six more than last season’s 14 out of 175.

Larnaca also has an increase as 34 out of 45 hotels will be operational compared to 29 out of 43 during the winter season of 2018-2019.

The town has been enriched with several small boutique hotels during the past year, with many of these small hotels ready to accommodate tourists during the winter months.

Meanwhile, in the capital Nicosia, all 43 licensed hotel units will remain open, as has been the trend of the past five years.

Ending seasonality by turning Cyprus into an all-year destination is a priority for the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

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