Nicosia, Cyprus. Flights from Israel to Cyprus are expected to resume this week, offering a reprieve to the island’s tourism sector, according to Cyprus Hoteliers Association (Pasyxe) director general Christos Angelides. He said the resumption follows recent geopolitical developments.
Expected increase in flights
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Angelides described the anticipated resumption of flights from Israel as “an unexpected boost” for Cyprus tourism. He said that following the recent ceasefire agreed between the United States and Iran, flights are expected to begin next week in even greater numbers than before.
Angelides said this would be sustained and noted that Israel is the second largest source market for Cyprus.
Hotel occupancy uneven across districts
Asked about hotel occupancy rates across Cyprus, particularly in the Famagusta district, Angelides said performance was uneven. He said April in Protaras was performing at significantly lower levels compared with other areas of Cyprus, based on Pasyxe surveys and daily information.
He added that lower occupancy levels are also expected in the first half of May in Protaras, while other districts are performing at a better level than Famagusta.
Focus on peak tourism period
Angelides stressed the importance of safeguarding the five-month tourism period from June to the end of October, describing it as a time of very high hotel occupancy rates and increased tourist inflows and income for the country.
Efforts to reinforce safety image
Responding to questions on efforts to reinforce Cyprus’ safety image, he said coordinated action is being taken by multiple stakeholders.
How do you expect the resumption of flights from Israel to affect tourism in your area?
