The global credit crunch fuelled by rising oil prices could devastate next year’s tourism from the UK with as much as £250 sterling being added to the price of some package holidays, the industry has warned.
Noel Josephides, a UK-based Cyprus operator and board member of the Association of British Travel Agents, said his company Sunvil, had already block-booked with one airline for next summer at a seat rate £50 higher than this year.
On top of that he warned that brochure prices would be up 15-20 per cent.
“This year we are taking the hit (of increased fuel prices),” said Josephides.
“Next year it will be far more dramatic. You have £50 on the price of the flight and 15-20 per cent extra on top of that. This is a horrendous increase. If you are paying £100 for a twin room per night, then add £20 more to that for every night… None of us knows what the market will take. If Cyprus continues to depend on the British market…and it’s already down this year…you won’t see any upturn next year. Anyone who thinks otherwise is being naïve. People will be holidaying at home.”
So far this year tourism from Britain is already down 3.7 per cent.
That’s on top of the 5.7 per cent fall last year over 2006, or a total of 7.8 per cent down between 2005 and 2007.
Haris Loizides, chairman of the Cyprus Hoteliers Association said regional representatives had met on Thursday to discuss the situation.
“We have some serious warnings from some of the majors (tour operators) about winter (this year) and next summer,” said Loizides.
“We expect next year to be the worst ever. Day after day the situation gets worse. Hoteliers who are relying too heavily on the British market are very concerned. Those who established themselves with the Russian market are a bit more comfortable but there is really not much that can be done. We are all trying our best but everyone is concerned,” he added.
Loizides said regional representatives had reported Ayia Napa was close to full given that most of its clients were Russian or Scandinavian.
But he said Protaras, Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos were not doing so well. Almost half of all British tourists holiday in Paphos.
