Package tours to the north ‘only a matter of time’
UK-BASED Greek Cypriot tour operators said yesterday it was only a matter of time before one of Britain’s four tour giants began putting on the pressure to sell holidays in the north.
The concern was expressed during a conference in Limassol yesterday on Cyprus and the British market, the island’s biggest contributor to the island’s tourism, which was organised by the Association of Greek Cypriot Travel Agents (AGTA).
The north was one of a list of concerns, which also included the lack of competitiveness, rising prices, quality, a cleaner environment and the effects of the second-home phenomenon on tourism.
In response to a question about the north posed by a Libra Holidays representative at the conference, Charles Eftichiou, Chief Executive of the Mid-Consort Group said it was true that there was more promotion, more retailers willing to sell and more people asking for it in the UK.
The British government, which supports direct flights to the north as a means to help end the isolation of the Turkish Cypriots is already looking for loopholes to get around international regulations deeming Tymbou (Ercan) airport an illegal operation.
“There is a growing pressure to sort it out and find a way out,” he said. “There is demand, more for excursions at the moment but I think that will change and if we don’t move fast to pacify the situation there will be unrest. It is only a matter of time. As far as the big tour operators are concerned I don’t think they are particularly sentimental about Cyprus being divided. If we don’t do something the big boys will drive the situation and this is a big dilemma for Greek Cypriot operators.”
One delegate said if the situation was not sorted out he would start selling the north himself and “dared” anyone to stop him.
Michael East of the Eastcastle Management Group echoed Eftichiou’s words.
“Don’t expect the UK operators to support you in the political arena,” he said. “They are looking at the north.”
AGTA chairman Akis Kyprianou, the managing director of Libra Holidays also said the issue needed to be solved. “Competition from the occupied areas will gradually but slowly begin to affect us,” he said.
Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) chairman Photis Photiou said there was a need to inform the British public of the illegal use of Greek Cypriot property but he also pressed home that there were also a number of internal issues to address.
“Problems have been accumulated due to past rapid development. In some areas there is damage, pollution, compromised quality levels, unprofessional behaviour, overcharging, infrastructural deficiencies and a limited number of things to see and do,” he said. “Extensive research has shown that Cyprus is still roughly perceived as a sea and sun destination.”
Photiou said that since September 11, the UK market had stabilised at around 1.3 million but never fully recovered its previous highs. However he said he was encouraged by this year’s figures that show an increase in UK arrivals in the first months of this year of 26 per cent. However this figure is compared to early 2004 when the Iraq war got underway and tourism in February and March dropped significantly.
According to AGTA, UK tourism dropped by one per cent in 2004. Figures showed that British bookings in January this year were down 15 per cent but they are optimistic that 2005 will be at least the same as 2004.
Tourism Minister George Lillikas, addressed the conference earlier did not refer to tourism in the north as the issue arose after he had left. He said out of the 2.3 million tourists that Cyprus had last year, almost 57 per cent were from the UK.
“This number says a lot about the importance of the UK for the Cyprus tourism industry,” he said. His up to date figures say tourism from Britain is up 13.2 per cent since last year.
However according to figures presented at the conference Cyprus’ nearest competitors are booming. Turkey is up 40 per cent, Egypt 70 per cent and Tunisia 20 per cent.
“2005 is flat to say the least,” said Kyprianou. “Cyprus is expensive. We need to face that and we need to face it urgently.”
