Tourism revenue fall is down to shorter holidays

The fall in revenue from tourism despite the increase in visitors in May is due to the fact that tourists, though their daily spend was up 3 per cent on average, was countered by a 7.6 per drop overall due to shorter stays, according to the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO).

Figures released by the statistical service showed a 3.1 per cent fall in revenue from tourism in May to €217.1 compared with 2014 while at the same time there was a 4.9 per increase in the number of visitors.

Each tourist spent 7.6 per cent less in May during their stay, which has fallen from an average of 10 days last year to 9 days this year. Visitors from the UK spent 13.4 per cent more on a daily basis compared to last year while Israelis spent 9.3 per cent more, the Swiss 9.1 per cent more and the Greeks 4.8 per cent. Tourists from Russia and Germany spent 8.4 per cent and 3.6 per cent respectively less per day.

The CTO said that on a daily basis, visitors were spending 3 per cent more on average but staying less due to DIY holidays based on their own criteria rather than the standard pre-internet two-week package deals offered by tour operators.

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