Υear 2025 is likely to be slightly better than 2024 for the hotel industry, Cyprus Hotels Association (PASYXE) chair, Thanos Michaelides, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Monday, noting that when there is instability in the region, the number of flights could be reduced and this situation can, from time to time, raise concerns among tourists.

Asked whether 2025 is expected to be a good year for the hotel industry, Michaelides replied that "the feedback we have received from the London exhibition in November was quite positive" adding that the UK market is the most important market for Cyprus.

"So if there is indeed a positive development there and the first half of 2025 is better than the first half of 2024, then I think 2025 can exceed 2024. Of course, no dramatic differences are expected, but it will probably be slightly better than 2024," he added.

Asked whether the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have affected winter tourism in Cyprus, Michaelides said that when there is instability in the neighbouring areas, the number of flights can be reduced and concerns may rise among tourists.

He said that in terms of tourism from Russia during winter, there was anyway no significant flow of tourists to Cyprus, before the launch of the Russian offensive against Ukraine. "The big loss we are counting from Russia and Ukraine is for the summer months," he pointed out.

Asked whether there are foreign tourists in Cyprus hotels these days, Michaelides said that foreigners who come to Cyprus in winter mostly come to enjoy the weather. "They are people who stay about ten to fifteen days on average on the island. They are mostly English people and people from central Europe such as Germany, Poland and Austria," he added.