Tourism is dying in Paphos

Sir,

Tourism is dying fast in Paphos. We had visitors at both Greek and English Easters, the seafront at Paphos was and still is a building site, Yeroskipou is a mess, visitors liked the Church and the Cyprus delights.

There is no water in the public toilets in town and several of them are unhygienic and a disgrace.

We went out the other Saturday evening and by 10.30pm, there was not enough water to flush the toilets or wash the glasses in the bar.

Yet building is still going on seven days a week from 6.30am to late evening.

We met cement mixers and diggers on the road from Polis at 10.30pm. Sitting in restaurants at lunchtime and evening, there is noise and dirt from builders’ lorries and diggers. There is not enough water, yet there are estates of little occupied properties, and it is still going on with a large area cleared in Coral Bay, the Marina at Potomos. Where is all this water coming from? It is used for the cement, it is used to wash down, it is used for pools, it is used for showers and toilets.

Last year, we had a nice meal at a hotel, we went to book again and the restaurant manager rudely demanded money up front, there were only four of us. We did not go or book our pending visitors there. We went to a five star hotel in Limassol for Christmas, the food was good but the service was poor, and they had gaming tables Christmas night.

Relatives were overcharged (deliberately) £13.60 at a restaurant. One of the party worked for a tour company and her comment was “you know where I will tell people not to go.” Other elderly relatives had to queue at Paphos airport for two and three quarter hours in the sun.

Neither of these have been back to Cyprus.

My family have also discovered the Greek islands, and other places.

Cyprus either wants building or tourism, and the building is killing tourism.

We have lived in Cyprus many, many years, but find it is now expensive and dirty.

Yet we are fond of Cyprus.

Mike Herbert
Paphos

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