TOURISM OFFICIALS and industry heads in Paphos were disappointed with visitor numbers both domestic and foreign over the Easter period, despite a huge advertising campaign to promote hotel and restaurant deals.
Nassos Hadjigeorgiou, the Paphos manager of the regional board of tourism told the Cyprus Mail that visitor numbers to Paphos from abroad were down by at least 20 per cent during Easter week compared with the same period last year.
“The local market was satisfactory – although we were expecting more – but Paphos did emerge as the top domestic destination with Cypriots for Easter,” said Hadjigeorgiou.
“With all the campaigning and special deals that hoteliers have been offering, we did expect that we could do slightly better. I don’t have a solid percentage for the internal market figures, but it was somewhere around five per cent down.”
President of the Federation of Restaurant Associations, Fitos Thrassivoulou, added, “Easter was generally very quiet for the restaurants in Paphos, and the only busy places were those visited by students here on holiday: and they were spending their parents’ money.”
“We are disappointed with the response for the three-day Easter campaign aimed at Cypriots. We are looking forward now and hope that after May 1, as the President of the CTO has commented, that it will become busier.”
Thrassivoulou continued, “Hotels, which are all-inclusive, I believe, are busier, but they are under pressure to lower their prices, and so want to take more from the guests.”
“We have written a letter to President Christofias with the hope of meeting him .We hope to persuade him that restaurants shouldn’t have to pay VAT, as we are facing the biggest economic problem of the tourism industry.”
Hadjigeorgiou, meanwhile, is hopeful that Paphos will be the first choice holiday destination for domestic tourists in the summer season.
“Despite slightly disappointing results for the internal market over the Easter period, I hope Cyprus will do well this period,” he said, “We feel that Paphos is the first option for domestic tourists in the summer, as there is so much to see and do here.”
But he issued a word of caution that all of Cyprus will see a problem with the international market, and that the projections for the main market arrivals in 2009 are not optimistic.
“We have a lot of big competition, and some people will be staying and holidaying at home, also sterling isn’t doing well. This is a big factor to take into account, and will affect the booking rate and flow of arrivals to Cyprus,” he said.
Hadjigeorgiou believes neighbouring countries such as Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia are beating Cyprus on price and competition from them is strong.
“People are especially sensitive to price at the moment and it’s difficult to compete. The Russian market is doing well in Paphos, but they won’t be able to cover the decrease in the British market.
“Even though all markets are experiencing the crisis, some markets seem to be emerging in Paphos such as Poland, Romania and Russia, Bulgaria, Scandinavia and the Middle East.”
Hadjigeorgiou pointed out that there is some movement within the Arabic countries.
“Hopefully we will enter into other markets, we have to look at the long term goals now. Looking ahead is our priority; we will have our traditional markets, and we are working heavily on these, such as Britain, and offering special deals, but we do have to make an impression elsewhere.”
According to Hadjigeorgiou, traditionally May isn’t a popular month for holidaying, and there is often a gap in bookings for the first ten days of the month. But he believes the indication is that this is the month in which most foreigners book their holidays for the summer.
“We expect to see good results from our main markets such as the UK, Germany and Russia,” he said, adding, “The local tourism summer campaign will have a similar approach as the Easter one, with TV and advertising campaigns.”
