HOTELIERS from the Association of Tourist Enterprises (STEK) yesterday warned that without water, their hotels would have to close down.
The desperate appeal came as industry chiefs warned some factories would have to stop work without water, while private clinics said operations may have to be postponed unless they were guaranteed continuous supply of water.
But the pleas fell on deaf ears, as the government reiterated it had no choice but to follow its decision to cut water supplies by 30 per cent across the board. In most areas, this has translated into water being cut on alternate days. Only state hospitals have been exempted from the cuts.
Calling on the state to take on its responsibilities over the serious water shortage, STEK head Akis Vavlides requested a “continuous supply of water to hotel units, as without water, hotels cannot operate”.
Vavlides said one travel agency in a country sending thousands of tourists to Cyprus had said it would be issuing a travel directive, warning tourists on the water issue in Cyprus.
Cutting water supply to the industry, he added, would provoke a chain reaction of problems, not just in the economy but also as thousands of hotel workers stand to lose their jobs if hotels are forced to close down.
“The state has vast responsibilities in the matter as it has failed to predict this water shortage in order to take the necessary measures,” said Vavlides.
He added that STEK had requested a meeting with President Demetris Christofias to discuss the issue and find immediate solutions.
“Imagine being a tourist, who has saved up and looked forward to a week’s holiday abroad, coming to Cyprus and being told that they can’t use the shower at specific times or ever worse, the toilet.
“It doesn’t bear thinking about,” Vavlides said.
The tourism industry is given seven per cent of all water sources a year, in contrast to 22 per cent that is given to households and a staggering 65 per cent absorbed by agriculture.
The head of the Hoteliers’ Association PASYXE, Haris Loizides, also called for uninterrupted water supply to all hotels.
He said the problem was very serious and echoed Vavlides’ claims that some of Cyprus’ main tourist markets were considering travel advisories, warning over problems that could arise due to the lack of water.
“The problem is very serious for hotels. There is information that reached us that some of the main countries from which tourists arrive are examining the possibility of issuing travel instructions, warning tourists that if they come to Cyprus they could face problems with the water shortage,” Loizides said yesterday.
“This is a very negative development, especially at a time when we are all making huge attempts to restore tourism to where it used to be; this will be a huge blow to these efforts.”
He added that ways needed to be found in order for hotels to completely escape water cuts.
Meanwhile, private clinics warned yesterday that if they weren’t granted full water supply, they may have to cancel operations.
The Cyprus Association of Private Clinics called for equal treatment with public hospitals – the only organisations deemed important enough to avoid water cuts.
Association head Achilleos Perdios wondered how it was possible to operate on patients and maintain hygiene standards when there was no water.
“What we are requesting is at least equal treatment with public hospitals,” said Perdios. “Our patients have exactly the same needs as patients in public hospitals.”
As a short-term solution, the association has suggested private clinics have their own mobile water tanks for every day there is no supply.
“Imagine what will happen in the operating theatres when there is no water. It is impossible for me to think I will not be able to operate on a patient who is on the operating table, ready for an operation, and I go to wash myself and sterilise my hands, and while I’m washing my hands the water runs out. What will I say to my patient? Who will cover for me? Who will justify me to the patient? Will I wake him and tell him I can’t operate on him because there is no water?”
Industry chiefs also pleaded for special treatment yesterday, as the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE) requested that industry be supplied with water during working hours.
KEVE Deputy General Secretary Marios Tsakkis said the cuts affected a large number of businesses which use water as a basic material.
“The water cuts that unfortunately have to take place, are affecting a significant number of businesses for which water is a basic first material,” he explained. “For them it is the main element to produce their products.”
Tsakkis concluded, “Our demand is that water in industries, industrial estates and industrial zones all over Cyprus must at least be given water during working hours. Some solutions can be found.”
