Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus needs immediate strengthening of human resources and increased international promotion as a tourist destination, according to Cyprus Hoteliers Association (Pasyxe) president Thanos Michaelides.
Human resources and sustainable tourism
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Michaelides said strengthening human resources and promoting Cyprus internationally are key pillars of sustainable development for Cypriot tourism in the coming years.
He said the hotel sector faces challenges beyond national borders, with the most significant being a global shortage of human resources.
Work permits and proposals to the Labour Ministry
Michaelides said progress has been made in recent years, particularly in the work permit issuance process for staff from third countries, which he described as the main labour pool for the tourism industry.
He added that Pasyxe submitted specific proposals to the Labour Ministry aimed at easing staff recruitment and creating stability for third-country workers so they can be employed in Cyprus on a year-round basis.
He said this stability is decisive for service quality and sector productivity.
Staff as ambassadors of local culture
Michaelides emphasised the role of human resources as ambassadors of the Cypriot tourism product, saying every hotel employee should know and experience local culture as the first and most immediate image of the country for visitors.
Promotion and air connectivity
Michaelides said that despite long-standing recognition of the hotel industry’s contribution to the economy, further investment is needed in international promotion and in improving air connectivity with existing and new markets.
He added that combining these actions with hoteliers’ investments in their units could lead to higher occupancy rates and the attraction of higher-quality visitors.
What steps do you think would most improve year-round staffing in Cyprus’s hotel sector?