Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus Hoteliers Association (Pasyxe) president Thanos Michaelides said 2025 was a good year for the hotel industry, with results broadly in line with 2024. He said the sector is showing stability as it works to extend the tourist season.
Occupancy trends and outlook
Speaking to Politis, Michaelides said occupancy rates were broadly in line with 2024 and in some cases slightly higher. He said two consecutive years with similar results create stability and provide a stronger sense of predictability.
Michaelides said 2026 is likely to follow a similar trajectory if there are no major disruptions, calling it a very good starting point for the sector’s longer-term objective of extending the tourist season and moving closer to year-round hotel operation.
Winter operations and Famagusta developments
Michaelides said the effort to keep hotels open longer is already visible during the current winter period, from November 2025 to March 2026. He said more hotel units have decided to remain open, either for the full season or part of it, with participation higher than in previous years.
He also cited developments in the Famagusta free zone, where several hotels extended their operating period beyond the traditional summer months.
Potential expansion in 2026–2027
Michaelides said that if the current effort proves successful, in the winter of 2026–2027 even more hotels will remain open, or those already operating will further extend their period. He added that the gradual expansion is bringing Cyprus closer to year-round operation for most hotels.
How do you expect extended winter hotel openings to affect tourism in Cyprus?
