Limassol, Cyprus. Limassol’s hotel sector is relying on last-minute bookings and domestic tourism to support summer demand, with occupancy rates still below last year’s levels, according to Limassol hoteliers association president Christos Tsanos. He also called for practical government support for the industry.
Bookings remain below last year
In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency, Tsanos said Limassol hoteliers are increasingly depending on domestic visitors and late reservations to fill rooms.
He said that by May 31, Limassol had recorded an estimated 30 per cent decline in bookings compared with 2025, a trend he said was broadly in line with other districts across the island.
June shows improvement
Tsanos said June showed encouraging signs following positive developments related to the Iran-United States conflict and revisions to travel advisories in several countries.
According to him, the drop in bookings has now narrowed to around 20 per cent.
“We expect that July will be supported by last-minute bookings and that August will also be strengthened by domestic tourism,” Tsanos said.
Occupancy projections
He said he hoped occupancy rates would ultimately perform better than initially forecast despite the weaker start to the season.
Tsanos said average hotel occupancy in Limassol was around 80 per cent last year, while projections for this year place the figure at about 60 to 65 per cent.
“The three summer months do not save an entire year,” he said.
Staffing and permits
Tsanos said Limassol hoteliers, who mainly serve higher-income visitors with greater expectations, must continue to retain staff and maintain high service standards despite market pressures.
He also said timely processing of work permits by the Labour Office is essential for hotels to retain their staff.