Cyprus tourism comeback: best season since 2019

2023 has been an amazing year for Cyprus' tourism, making it the best since 2019, and it's getting pretty exciting!

The most hopeful year for tourism in Cyprus since 2019 is 2023, when there is a spectacular comeback in the industry. The current tourist season has exceeded Cyprus's initial expectations by a significant margin, according to Costas Koumis, the country's tourism minister. Cyprus had targeted for a moderate 5% to 10% annual growth in tourist arrivals.

Koumis and his Deputy Ministry have been actively collaborating with the Cyprus Hotels Association (PASYXE) to address some of the longstanding challenges plaguing the industry, including issues related to employment and the licensing framework.

PASYXE President Thanos Michaelides shed light on the pressing concerns faced by the Cypriot accommodation sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasized that the industry currently grapples with a severe deficit of approximately 5,000 staff members. To combat this issue effectively, he called for swift and flexible decision-making processes.

The key challenges encountered by the vital tourist industry were discussed extensively during a recent meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and the newly appointed board of PASYXE, in conjunction with Minister Koumis.

Reflecting on the current tourist season, Minister Koumis shared some encouraging statistics. He revealed that tourist arrivals for the first seven months of the year have witnessed a remarkable year-on-year increase of 27%, while overall revenue has surged by an impressive 30%.

Interestingly, despite the fact that this year's numbers are almost 2% lower than the benchmark set in 2019 when Cyprus received a record-breaking 3.97 million visitors, it is important to note that this accomplishment was made without the considerable contribution of Russian tourists. The geopolitical circumstances surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, which had a significant impact on the tourism industry, are blamed for the lack of Russian visitors.

Minister Koumis voiced optimism for the future, saying, "There is no doubt that we are going through a very good tourist season, and as a member of PASYXE noted, we have covered the gap in the tourist market." He noted that there are still many problems and challenges that the tourist sector must address and manage carefully.

Koumis also pointed out that staff shortages within the tourism sector are not unique to Cyprus but are a global phenomenon, owing to the surge in tourist flows, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thanos Michaelides, President of PASYXE, expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing tourist season, indicating that it has come remarkably close to matching the tourism figures of 2019. He stressed, "I believe we have surpassed the quality of tourists compared with 2019, which is more important than the absolute numbers of arrivals."

Michaelides went on to predict that in 2024, Cyprus is likely to surpass the 2019 tourism record, owing to the "very good momentum" and improved air connectivity, particularly during the winter season, which will undoubtedly bolster arrivals next summer.

In order to handle workforce constraints, Michaelides urged flexibility and quick decision-making. He stressed that if not addressed, the nearly 5,000 job gap in the Cypriot tourism industry could eventually hurt the sector. Cyprus is still committed to navigating the difficulties and taking advantage of the opportunities given by the changing tourist landscape in order to achieve sustained growth and prosperity in this crucial industry.