The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing ripples in Cyprus’s tourism industry, according to Thanos Michailides, President of the Cyprus Hotel Association.
Michailides reports cancellations from Israel for October and a slowdown in bookings from Europe for 2025, raising concerns among hoteliers.
Michailides stated that these cancellations cannot be recovered.
He warned that the observed slowdown in bookings for next year poses a risk of Cyprus losing market share among early bookers. These early reservations, he explained, are typically made by travellers seeking discounted holiday packages.
Regarding September’s occupancy rates, Michailides reported that the previous month closed at 80%, with satisfactory visitor numbers. “We had quite a few last-minute bookings,” he said, indicating that the month performed at adequate levels.
Expectations for October were initially positive. However, Michailides noted, “We’ve lost a number of overnight stays due to the crisis in Israel,” adding that these losses cannot be compensated for.
(information from CNA)
