The tourist industry goes through one of the most difficult phases last seen in early 1990. According to tourist agents, the reservations for the new tourist season are 25% lower and sounded the alarm demanding support measures by the state.
“The drop in British reservations by the end of October stood at 15% while now stands at 25%”, Chairman of Travel Agents, Victor Mantovanis said.
Mr. Mantovanis stressed that if certain measures are taken, things will change, otherwise, the situation will be dramatic.
Similarly, Tourist Agents General Secretary, Thasos Katsourides said that they have already reserved seats so that if the government’s measures are fruitful and the climate is reversed, there is availability.
PASYXE General Secretary, Zacharias Ioannides stressed the importance of the time that the government’s measures will be enforced.
“The prospects to minimize the negative impacts on tourism become weaker day by day”, he stated.
“The countries that inject tourism in Cyprus go through tough times and the government must adopt a package of measures for the support of the industry, just like the competitive countries did”, he added.
Chairman of Cyprus Tourist Business Association, Akis Vavlitis, reiterated how importance it is to take measures the soonest possible.
“The help that the hotel industry will receive from the government’s measures will pass through the tour operators and the tourists”, Mr. Vavlitis said.
Admitting for the first time that tourist reservations have dropped, CTO Chairman, Panos Egglezos said that the global crisis might affect tourism in 2009 and outnumbered certain measures that the CTO will promote.
The measures are:
- The drop in the cost of hotel units, so that they push the price of their packages down.
- The cut in the VAT that the hoteliers impose.
- The deduction of the overnight tax.
- The differentiation of the tariff that the hoteliers pay for electricity.
- The Central Bank intervention to extend the hoteliers’ debts to the banks and the interest rate cut.
- The abolition of the airport duties.
“It is deemed necessary that the hotels reduce their packages with the government’s contribution”, Mr. Egglezos said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Commerce, Finance, Transport and Interior Ministries as well as representatives of CCCI, OEB, PASYXE, STEK, ACTA and the Municipalities Union.
“The drop in British reservations by the end of October stood at 15% while now stands at 25%”, Chairman of Travel Agents, Victor Mantovanis said.
Mr. Mantovanis stressed that if certain measures are taken, things will change, otherwise, the situation will be dramatic.
Similarly, Tourist Agents General Secretary, Thasos Katsourides said that they have already reserved seats so that if the government’s measures are fruitful and the climate is reversed, there is availability.
PASYXE General Secretary, Zacharias Ioannides stressed the importance of the time that the government’s measures will be enforced.
“The prospects to minimize the negative impacts on tourism become weaker day by day”, he stated.
“The countries that inject tourism in Cyprus go through tough times and the government must adopt a package of measures for the support of the industry, just like the competitive countries did”, he added.
Chairman of Cyprus Tourist Business Association, Akis Vavlitis, reiterated how importance it is to take measures the soonest possible.
“The help that the hotel industry will receive from the government’s measures will pass through the tour operators and the tourists”, Mr. Vavlitis said.
Admitting for the first time that tourist reservations have dropped, CTO Chairman, Panos Egglezos said that the global crisis might affect tourism in 2009 and outnumbered certain measures that the CTO will promote.
The measures are:
- The drop in the cost of hotel units, so that they push the price of their packages down.
- The cut in the VAT that the hoteliers impose.
- The deduction of the overnight tax.
- The differentiation of the tariff that the hoteliers pay for electricity.
- The Central Bank intervention to extend the hoteliers’ debts to the banks and the interest rate cut.
- The abolition of the airport duties.
“It is deemed necessary that the hotels reduce their packages with the government’s contribution”, Mr. Egglezos said.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the Commerce, Finance, Transport and Interior Ministries as well as representatives of CCCI, OEB, PASYXE, STEK, ACTA and the Municipalities Union.
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