How long will the tourists keep coming with these prices?

Sir,

I have holidayed in Cyprus every year, some times twice a year, since 1986, visiting the same hotel in Paphos. Having just returned from holiday I am amazed at the lack of tourists in the town and on my visits to Limassol and Larnaca the situation seems the same. This drop is on top of the drop in 2003.

How long can Cyprus continue with the currency structure which makes prices
about 15 per cent dearer than last year, bearing in mind that when northern Cyprus
comes on stream the tourist drop will bite even further. There are scores of
properties for sale with no buyers, and rentals are being squeezed: I was
offered a three-bedroom detached villa with pool for £100 sterling per week, and the amount of new building is going on at such a pace it seems to me that a property price crash is imminent.

David Luff
Bryncethin, UK

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