Further increase of tourism in Cyprus in 2024

“It is expected that there will be a higher performance than this year in 2024”

Cyprus has been established as an important attractive tourist destination and this year is heading towards a very high performance. Over the last few months bookings have exceeded 95% and already the first bookings for 2024 have started to arrive. The assessment based on data and information from tourism agencies, especially from tour operators, is that there is a great interest which continues to rise. The new year is expected to start earlier and is predicted to be better than 2023. Tourist markets are expanding both in Europe and the Middle East and in other countries. The big tour operators are asking the hotels for a larger allocation of rooms, while at the same time new tour operators are including Cyprus in their programs, increasing the demand. Air connectivity is constantly expanding, making Cyprus an attractive destination for more countries, resulting in an increase in the number of visitors who choose our place for their holidays. In addition, the tourism exhibitions also give a clear picture and the mark for the next year. These findings are very encouraging on the condition that we effectively deal with the problem of the lack of qualified workforce for the staffing and smooth operation of hotel and tourism businesses.

The tourist product of Cyprus is competitive because of the quality and price it offers, as well as the many other well-known benefits it provides. Several hotels with the closing of the units in November, are planning and preparing renovations and upgrades aiming to maintain the high level of building facilities, equipment, furnishings and digital infrastructure that will satisfy the expectations of every visitor. This fact should be utilized so that the tourism industry will be ready to meet the challenges of the upcoming new year. The better staffed and upgraded the hotels and tourist establishments are, the better the accommodation, service and entertainment of tourists visiting Cyprus will be.

The aforesaid positive image is directly dependent on solving the problem of staffing the hotel units with sufficient and specialized staff, for this reason the assistance of all involved stakeholders is required. The preparation of a national plan and program, in the medium and long term, is an urgent need and all the agencies must help widely since the problem is worsening year by year. The Ministries of Labour, Interior, Finance, Education and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, together with the trade unions, the Cyprus Hotel Association, the other stakeholders and the local governments, should soon study and solve the problem that is the Achilles heel of tourism.

The contribution of tourism to the country's economy has always been and is very high, for this reason Cyprus also needs to strengthen the education that will provide work in the tourism industry for the benefit of the country, the workers and the tourism businesses. All receive a share of the revenue from tourists coming to the island and in order to have prospects and further development, a national strategy and policy is needed. Competing destinations move forward for better progress, people travel and the choice is one-way. There is a need to draw up and implement programs as quickly as possible and do best to lift Cyprus higher.

Employing the necessary staff who are experienced and well trained to fill the positions in the various jobs, is a necessity and a priority, so that the hotels and the food sector in general can meet their obligations. There is a lack of staff and the state must deal with the issue. Cyprus cannot afford to lose the good name it has built up and for tourists to leave disappointed due to a lack of service, care and service.

The expectations for tourism in 2024 are favourable and better performance than this year is expected. It is up to all stakeholders and the State to work together to ensure the benefits and advantages that Cyprus provides as a consistent quality tourist destination. It is expected to receive even more visitors and to extend the tourist season, so the benefit will be greater. However, it is important to ensure the competitiveness offered by the tourist product in order to serve the needs that arise, always for the interest of the country in mind.