By Evie Andreou
THE Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) announced on Friday the pricelist for 155 coastal hotels and restaurants to better inform consumers and avoid cases of profiteering. However, the annual survey suggests once again why tourists complain that Cyprus is an expensive destination, with an unjustifiably wide range in prices for water, beers, burgers and the popular frappe coffee drink.
The prices on the list are based on the pricelists of the establishments that are obliged by law to display them prominently and be visible to everyone, while for every service, a receipt must be issued, the tourism authority said.
According to the list, which CTO has not published in English yet, the average price for a 500ml local bottled water is around €1 to €1.20. The cheapest, €0.80, is sold at the Limni restaurant in Ayios Theodoros in Larnaca, while the most expensive is sold at the Four Seasons hotel in Limassol that charges €4.75 for the same bottle.
Frappe iced coffee, the most popular cool beverage on the island, ranges in price from €2.75 and €4.60, with the cheapest, €1.80 at Goody’s restaurant in Limassol, while Bennigan’s Grill on the Mackenzie tourist strip in Larnaca serves frappe for €2.
Burger prices range between €4.75 and €15, although prices vary according to type of meat, beef or pork and condiments. Golden Beach on Lady’s Mile near Limassol charges €6 without fries, while AquaMare Beach in Geroskipou offers burger and fries at the same price. At the Asterias Beach in Ayia Napa, €10 will get you a beef burger with barbecue sauce, coleslaw and fries.
Another popular beverage is beer that ranges between €2 and €4.50 for a 330ml can, although some establishments have posted prices for large bottles, such as the Polis municipal beach in Latchi which charges €3. In some hotels it can be found for €5 and €6.
Meanwhile, the CTO has also produced a list with maximum prices charged for water sports, once again only in Greek. For a two-seat pedal boat the highest price is €8 for 30 minutes, while a one-seat jet ski can be charged up to €40 for 15 minutes.
A 2km banana ride goes for €10 per person, and €18 per person for a 2km ring ride. Paragliding prices should not exceed €50 per 3km, while to hire a windsurfing board or take lessons for windsurfing should cost €15 for 30 minutes.
To inform consumers of their rights and obligations in their dealings with tourist businesses, the CTO posted in its website a Holiday Guide. As expected by the ‘tourist’ organisation, it is only in Greek.
“Consumers are urged to utilise the CTO’s guides and apply proper consumer behaviour,” the CTO said in an announcement.
The pricelist and holiday guide can be found at www.visitcyprus.com under ‘Stoixeia yia tin Kypro’ (Στοιχεία για την Κύπρο – data about Cyprus) or http://www.visitcyprus.com/media/b2b_gr/News_Releases/Paratiritirio_timon_paraliaka_26-6-2015.pdf .
The water sport list is available at: http://www.visitcyprus.com/media/b2b_gr/News_Releases/Anotates_times_thalassion_athlimaton.pdf or www.visitcyprus.biz under ‘Anakoinothenta’.
For more information call 22691100.
