Tour operators in Cyprus

There are currently more than 20 tour operators specialising in Cyprus operating on the Russian market. Some of them can be considered market leaders, whilst others occupy a more modest position. So how do you choose a tour operator for Cyprus and ensure your holiday is as comfortable as possible?

‘Biblioglobus’ Tour Operator

This tour operator holds the strongest position in the Cyprus market. According to experts, around 80 per cent of all Russian tourists visiting Cyprus do so through ‘Biblioglobus’.

This is largely due to the fact that the tour operator organises flights to Cyprus not only from Moscow and St Petersburg, but also from various regions of Russia (Yekaterinburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Sochi, etc.). Working in close collaboration with Transaero Airlines, the tour operator ‘Biblioglobus’ is able to offer the most competitive prices on flights to Cyprus.

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Among the operator’s undoubted strengths are the most competitive prices, both for flights (as we have already mentioned regarding our partnership with Transaero) as well as for hotels (‘Biblioglobus’ has exclusive contracts with most of Cyprus’s leading hotels). Incidentally, this goes a long way towards resolving issues with overbooking (a shortage of hotel rooms due to double bookings). As a rule, in such cases, the hotel management sides with the tour operator that brings in the greatest number of tourists.

Furthermore, in Cyprus, the company has an extensive fleet of vehicles, as well as permanent drivers and guides, which helps to ensure that tourist services are provided whilst maintaining the necessary safety standards.

One of the tour operator’s drawbacks is that the company operates on a ‘high-volume’ basis. Due to the large number of tourists, a personalised approach to each customer is virtually impossible.

Tez Tour

This international holding company is a leading domestic tour operator and the undisputed market leader for holidays to Egypt and Turkey. With regard to Cyprus, the company’s position has weakened somewhat in recent years; however, ‘Tez Tour’ still holds a fairly high market share on the Cyprus route.
This tour operator is worth considering if you are planning a trip to Cyprus from Perm, the Krasnodar Krai, Nizhny Novgorod or certain other regions of Russia. Direct flights to Cyprus are not available from all regions, so you will need to consult the agency to find the best route.

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The tour operator ‘TUI’

The company does not have a long history in the Russian tourism market, but it has managed to achieve decent results in recent years. TUI is a joint venture established by the European leader in the tourism market, TUI Travel PLC, and the financial corporation S-Group Capital Management, which provides the company with stable funding for the development of its regional network and the implementation of projects.

In the Cypriot market, TUI holds a strong position, steadily ‘gaining ground’ on the leading players. It is worth noting that some hotels in Cyprus (for example, the 4* Vrissiana Beach Hotel in Protaras, which was refurbished in 2013) sold their accommodation exclusively through this operator.

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Among the tour operator’s strengths are its significant number of offices in Moscow and St Petersburg, its own representative office in Cyprus, and a steadily growing number of regional offices. Furthermore, TUI also holds a fairly strong position in its dealings with Cypriot hotels, thanks to the fact that the company is, at its core, a European tour operator and ensures an influx of tourists not only from Russia but also from other countries.

With an extensive network of representative offices across European countries and by purchasing a significant number of hotel rooms, TUI frequently offers last-minute deals to Cyprus, which is undoubtedly one of the company’s strengths. Therefore, if you are looking for a budget holiday in Cyprus, you can take advantage of these special offers.

Among the tour operator’s shortcomings are the problems with charter flights that TUI encountered in the summer of 2013. Holidaymakers complained about flight delays lasting several hours, caused by the airline ‘Kolavia’, with which the tour operator works. In this situation, holidaymakers were provided with soft drinks and hot meals at the airport.  If flights are delayed by more than 6–8 hours, tourists are accommodated in a hotel. In addition, TUI provided customers with a compensation package: fruit and wine in their room, a free excursion or cash compensation of up to 200 euros.

Tour operators Solvex and ‘Natalie Tours’

Both companies have a long history in the Russian market and hold roughly equal positions in the Cyprus market.

As well as group tours to Cyprus, both tour operators offer MICE programmes (organising conferences, seminars and training courses in Cyprus), and also place an emphasis on tailor-made tours.

The strengths of these tour operators include a personalised approach to customers, as well as the high quality of services provided both in Russia and in Cyprus.

Among the drawbacks is the higher price level of the services provided compared with other tour operators.

In addition to the tour operators discussed, the following companies operate in the Cypriot market: ‘Evroport’, ‘GoldTravel’, ICS Travel Group, ‘Intravel Stoleshniki’, ‘More Travel’, ‘Pegas Touristik’, ‘Veditour’, ‘Versa’ and ‘Neva Travel’.

From our review, it is clear that choosing a tour operator for Cyprus is no simple matter. When selecting a company, remember that price is not the only factor that matters. Excessively low prices from an unfamiliar tour operator or travel agent should set alarm bells ringing: operators with a small market share cannot offer prices lower than those of the leading tour operators in Cyprus.

Be careful not to find out on the eve of your departure that you have neither tickets nor money, whilst the travel agency’s staff have apparently flown off to warmer climes at your expense. When choosing a tour operator, pay attention to the company’s reputation in the market, its reliability and online reviews. That way, your holiday in Cyprus will be an unforgettable experience – in every positive sense!