January-October tourism revenue down 85.1 per cent

Buffeted by the coronavirus pandemic, Cyprus’ tourism sector saw revenue plunge by 85.1 per cent in the first 10 months of 2020, according to figures published by the Cyprus Statistical Service on Wednesday.

In October, revenue was down by 74.1 per cent.

According to the results of the Passenger Survey carried out by the Statistical Service, revenue from tourism in October 2020 reached €77.4 million, less than a third of the €299.4 million generated in the corresponding month of the previous year.

For the period January – October 2020, revenue from tourism is estimated at only €376.3 million a massive 85.1 per cent drop compared to the €2.5334 billion in the corresponding period of 2019.

Expenditure per person in October 2020 was €767.66, up 11.9 per cent compared to €685.82 in the corresponding month of the previous year.

But the daily expenditure per person for October 2020 compared to October 2019 recorded a decrease of 12.6 per cent (from €77.06 to €67.34) whereas the average length of stay increased by 28.1 per cent.

CyStat noted that under measures taken by the government to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, a ban of entry to Cyprus was imposed on several categories of persons, including tourists, for the period of March 15 to June 8, 2020.

A gradual easing of the travel restrictions to Cyprus was implemented as of June 9, allowing arrivals from specific countries, according to the epidemiological risk categorisation issued by the Ministry of Health.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.