Paphos pricing tourists out of town

Sir,

As a frequent visitor to the island, I was last over in May. I liked the new Paphos harbour area, no cars running along the seafront. My wife and I actually stopped for a meal and drinks, we were shocked at how expensive it was, you would expect to pay more, but not that much more.

I see no reason for us to go back to the harbour now, I have no desire to see a local performing dangerous and noisy stunts, I can see better in one of my own cities. So how is opening the front to traffic going to increase shop revenues? I will spend my “tourist cash” somewhere else, maybe I will go to the north for the day instead.

Trade is down because why would I want to buy what would be cheap rubbish here in the UK, at over inflated prices in Cyprus. Why would I want to eat at an overpriced restaurant when I can get better food at a better price, with no traffic between me and the Med?

If the restaurants were better value (a few are good and they are rightly busy), and the souvenir shops were selling something I would like to buy, then I would use them. Some of the other shops, like opticians, are no longer the bargains they were, why get your glasses on holiday when for roughly the same price you can get them in the UK?

Last time I was looking for a print, I couldn’t find anything I liked or was not prepared to pay so much for it. I got the expensive print I liked for under half price back in the UK, the joke is I have to bring it to Cyprus with me.

Opening the road will change nothing, tourism is down because certain parts of Cyprus are getting too expensive.

I am lucky, I know Paphos and Cyprus well, I know I am going to have a fantastic time, but my money will not be spent on the harbour. I have a hire car waiting and I will be going to all the wonderful “off the beaten tracks” places that offer fantastic quality and great value.

You should have left it closed to traffic.

PS: What is next year’s excuse for poor revenues of the front going to be?

Mike Nicholson, Cambridgeshire, UK

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