Paphos spoiled by timeshare touts

Sir,

I have recently returned from another great holiday in Paphos, but was extremely disappointed to see that the timeshare touts are now congregating in great numbers around the harbour area.

We were near Coral Bay this time (we highly recommend the Neptune Hotel Apartments, especially the restaurant) but every time we went into Paphos town, we were accosted by these people. They were often waiting at the bus stops, getting in the way of people trying to get off the bus with kids, pushchairs, shopping, etc.; they were in lines along by the harbour restaurants so we got accosted half a dozen times in the space of a few metres. There was even one girl going round on the back of a scooter around the Roman Hotel area – we waited for a bus there and they were back three or four times in 15 minutes, pestering people.

Talking to some of the residents and locals – who also do not like it – we understand that there has been a local campaign to try and get something done about this problem, but it appears to have had little effect.

We love Paphos and return year after year, but with these people spoiling the town we, like so many others, are considering other places for future breaks. It would be a real shame if these pests are allowed to continue to spoil the holidays of so many, and more so if it stops them returning to the beautiful island of Cyprus.

We have a break booked in Paphos for next year, but if the situation worsens over this time, along with many other people it will be our last time there until these touts move on to continue their ruination of the world’s favourite holiday spots. Surely something can be done to stop this menace before Paphos ends up like so many other of the world’s holiday resorts?

The embarrassing part for me in all this is that the touts are usually British, and it seems to be British companies that are pushing these rip-off timeshare places with no regard for the local environment, people, or even their victims.
Having said that, I am also appalled at the number of property developers that seem to have sprung up in the past couple of years, selling land and building villas everywhere for vast sums (no doubt at great profit), yet very few second-hand properties are advertised. Cyprus is pricing itself out of any market – perhaps the prices should double or treble quickly to keep people away and preserve its beauty.
Doug McLaughlin,
Great Yarmouth, UK

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