[Cyprus Times] Optimism for the summer tourist season. Arrivals at last year's levels, estimates Perdios

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The Deputy Ministry of Tourism expects tourist arrivals at last year's levels, if not better,

Arrivals

Arrivals that will reach the figures of last year's summer season and maybe even exceed them, Cyprus expects this year, according to Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios. This was stated today in a statement after a meeting with the Secretary General of AKEL, Stefanos Stefanou, who handed him a memorandum of proposals to support the tourism industry.

During the meeting, which took place at AKEL's offices, means to help Cyprus' tourism industry cope with the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine were discussed, given that it entails the loss of 800,000 tourists.

During the meeting, which took place at AKEL's offices, means to help Cyprus' tourism industry cope with the crisis caused by the war in Ukraine were discussed, given that it entails the loss of 800,000.000 arrivals from Russia and Ukraine for this season

According to Mr Perdio, preparations had been made for this eventuality since the end of January, i.e. before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in order to compensate for the possible blow. "Our effort is about 200,000 - 250,000 arrivals to be covered by other markets," said the Deputy Minister of Tourism, who clarified that even so, the loss of 800,000 arrivals cannot be covered.

"The goal of having a year at least at the same level as last year is still achievable," he said. Perdios, explaining that last year's performance was one of the best in Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, even if markets such as England, Israel and the Scandinavian countries did not move as much as expected. "This year these markets will move and that is where our optimism comes from that we will reach last year's numbers, if not better, even though the decrease from Russia and Ukraine is huge and will not be completely made up for," he said.

He stressed that AKEL's contribution is important, with suggestions that he said the Deputy Ministry accepts "with an open mind and enthusiasm". He said that of proposals presented by AKEL on the tourism sector in previous years, several have been adopted, while this is the third time that the opposition party has made proposals for the upgrading of the tourism industry.

"I am sure that this time too, the recommendations are very good and in the right direction," Perdios said, adding that for weeks the Deputy Ministry has been working to implement some of what AKEL has also recommended.

Plan for subsidised holidays for Cyprus residents for May July

With regard to domestic tourism, also included in the memorandum of recommendations submitted by AKEL, the Deputy Minister said that they have already started preparing a package that will be submitted to the Council of Ministers next Wednesday.

"A programme of subsidised holidays for permanent residents in Cyprus has also been prepared for this year, which will start in May and will be valid until the end of July, for all regions of Cyprus," the Deputy Minister said.

In conclusion, he thanked Mr Stefanou for the cooperation and pointed out that AKEL's importance to the tourism sector can be seen in practice. "We are managing the crises, but at the same time we are also implementing the national strategy in tourism, which is very important because we want to deliver Cyprus improved compared to what we knew until before the Deputy Ministry started its actions," he concluded.

Proposals in four axes presented by AKEL

As AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou said after the meeting with the Deputy Minister of Tourism, the proposals for strengthening the tourism industry are articulated in four axes. As he said, after provincial meetings with stakeholders and actors of the tourism industry in Cyprus, a memorandum was drawn up, which proposes moves to ensure practical European solidarity with Cyprus, due to the crisis in tourism for the third consecutive year, efforts to find new markets and strengthen existing ones, measures to strengthen and promote domestic tourism, as well as plans to support businesses and workers in the sector. Stefanou also stressed the need to find new markets for the country's tourism industry, both in the short and medium term.

Regarding domestic tourism, he said that "based on the experience we have from previous years and especially from last year, when domestic tourism helped a lot in relation to the problems caused by the pandemic and the various lockdowns, it can also now provide important solutions and significant relief to the tourism industry." In this direction, the memorandum handed to the Deputy Minister proposes to extend, strengthen and promote the existing plan for domestic tourism for holidays of two nights or more, with a proposal to increase the amount covered per night to 80-100 euros.

It is also proposed to encourage agrotourism establishments to participate, so that not only coastal areas benefit. It is also proposed to reopen the "Small Escapes - Big Experiences" programme for guided excursions at weekends, as well as the "Learn Cyprus" programme, with a series of 7-8 routes, and the "Meet our Nature" programme, with tours of nature trails.

In addition, AKEL proposes to strengthen Social Tourism Plans, as well as to formulate targeted plans (based on socio-economic criteria) for workers and special population groups not covered by the Central Licence Fund (low pensioners, people with disabilities). Stefanou also referred to the need to support workers and businesses, since, as he said, "after two years of pandemic and the third year with the difficult situation created by the war, we need to study how we support workers and businesses to enable them to cope with the difficulties."

As Mr. Stefanou, AKEL's proposals emerged after meetings with stakeholders and players in the tourism industry in the Paphos, Limassol, Larnaca and Famagusta free zone districts, in order to help find solutions to the difficult situation the country is going through.

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