RESTAURANT takings are down 40 per cent on 2007, Paphos restaurateurs warned yesterday.
The stark figures were given by the local president of the Federation of the Paphos Association of Restaurants, Fitos Thrassivoulou.
“We are experiencing more problems in Cyprus every year,” he told the Cyprus Mail. “As time goes by, it’s harder for restaurants to survive.”
“We are very concerned about the hotels, which offer all-inclusive holidays, as guests are spending all their time and money inside the hotels,” he said.
“‘Obviously this creates problems for us, and is a pity for these visitors, who will not see the country, and experience the real Cyprus. One of the only places you can do this now, is in a restaurant.”
Thrassivoulou emphasised, “I am not referring to the staff, some of who are foreign, but each restaurant has a minimum of two or three Cypriots, who are the owners. These small family businesses are important to the fabric of our country, and not only in Paphos. We want them to survive.
“Last year wasn’t very good for tourism and revenue anyway; and with the change from Cyprus pounds to the euro, restaurants have really been affected.”
He added: “we don’t disagree with all-inclusive hotels as such, but we would like to see them moved from areas which are built up, as this is strangling the restaurant trade.
“We want the government to make specific areas for these all-inclusive resorts, which are away from other areas. I believe there is one between Zygi and Larnaca. In these positions, they won’t affect the local trade.”
Thrassivoulou added that not only were hotel residents staying in, but hotel restaurants were now competing for custom from visitors and locals not staying at the hotels. “This isn’t fair: restaurants must obtain so many different licences to operate, and a hotel only has to have one, which enables them to run many restaurants within the hotel.”
A new bus service started recently, connecting the main cities and airports of Cyprus. It’s hoped it will become popular with both visitors and residents.
“We are pleased about the new bus services, which are now operating. This should help numbers of people who are going out and also visiting other towns.
“In addition, we are hoping for a new night bus service in Paphos. This will help in two ways; people living or staying in Peyia, for example, would be able to catch a bus, and visit a restaurant for an evening, without the added expense of a taxi fare.
“It will also help stop drink driving. We would like these services to run until 2 am
“‘We need to advertise our bus service more, so that people arriving from abroad are aware they can catch a bus from the airport, or to other towns like Limassol.”
Local restaurant owner Yiannis Solomou agreed with Thrassivoulou’s comments regarding falling visitor numbers.
“I would say restaurant custom is down by 40-50 per cent this year. This is due to a number of factors. The English pound is down, and many Britons are no longer able to afford holidays.”
Solomou continued, “some of the tourists arriving don’t really have the money to eat out, and are staying in their hotels. A number of these are all-inclusive deals, so we are losing custom.”
“Paphos trade has been down all year. We definitely haven’t had as many visitors this season, the number are decreasing every year.”
Solomou said CTO figures stating visitor numbers are slightly up, were “a joke”.
“This simply isn’t true,” he said. “And there are new hotels and restaurants springing up every month. Basically there is less of an ever-decreasing pie to go around.”
“It’s partly our fault though. People here have changed; they aren’t as friendly as the old days, and they’re more money oriented.”
He concluded: “My restaurants are family owned and run, and I hope we will be able to continue for years to come.”
