Nicosia, Cyprus. Hotel bookings during the three-day carnival weekend were encouraging and demand for the Green Monday holiday appears similarly strong, according to Cyprus Hotel Association director Christos Angelides. He said occupancy during the previous three-day period was higher than expected.
Carnival weekend occupancy exceeds expectations
Angelides told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that bookings for the three days were “quite encouraging” based on available information. He said weather conditions supported domestic travel, noting that “the weather helped.”
Local festivities boost short getaways
Angelides said that after the rains, festive activities and children’s carnival parades in Nicosia, Paphos and Limassol contributed to increased short breaks, with high levels of overnight stays recorded in all cities.
Green Monday demand and hotel preparations
He said demand for the Green Monday break is expected to follow a similar pattern. Angelides added that several hotels will provide organised menus for Green Monday in an effort to keep guests on site, describing February as favourable due to the combination of rainfall and holiday activity.
Winter occupancy remains modest
Despite the holiday period, Angelides said winter occupancy levels remain modest overall. “No one can be happy with the 25 per cent and 30 per cent bookings, but it is what we say we need to build,” he said.
Year-round operation seen as necessary
Angelides said year-round hotel operation is needed so visitors become accustomed to travelling outside the peak season, including for conferences and events.
How do you see year-round hotel operations affecting travel in Cyprus outside the peak season?