According to the statements of the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Tourism, Nikos Rolandes, the estimates on tourism for 2002 remain at the same levels.

Mr. Rolandes pointed out that the decline in tourist arrivals is expected to reach 12%, while the decline in revenues is to reach 8%-9%. “This is fairly satisfying…especially if we take into consideration that during the last 4 years Cyprus had an enormous rise in revenues by 51%, whilst international tourism hardly reached 12% increase in revenues during the same period”, he stressed.

The Minister also reported that September was a good month in tourist arrivals as the decline reached only 7%, while October according to the first indications was a good month as well, pushing the decline for the year to 13% from 14%. It is expected that until the end of the year there is to be a further decline and will settle at 12%-12,5%.

Besides, according to Mr. Rolandes data submitted to the Parliamentary Committee of Commerce, 50% of the Cypriot citizens travel abroad for tourist purposes against 5% of the Greeks.