50% of hotels of various categories across all districts are open during this period and have rich programs for the Christmas and New Year holidays, said the President of the Cyprus Hoteliers Association (PASYXE), Thanos Michaïlides, adding that this year’s percentage of hotels in operation is at the same level as last year.

Mr. Michaïlides mentioned that most of the hotels that remain open are in Larnaca and Paphos, and that there are always special rates for Cypriot visitors.

Asked about the foreign visitors staying at hotels during this period, Mr. Michaïlides said they come from the United Kingdom, Germany, and Poland, while during the Christmas and New Year holidays, as usual, there is interest from Cypriots.

He emphasized that the interest from Cypriots is focused on the dates of December 24, 25, 26, 31, and January 1.

Regarding the challenges faced by hotels, Mr. Michaïlides noted that the issues have been stable over the past year, with geopolitical developments in the region, expressing hope that the tension in the area will decrease in the new year.

He also pointed out that this would help tourism to Cyprus and generally to the Middle East.

Furthermore, he said that in the new year, they hope that the structure for finding and employing foreign labor will be easier and more flexible so that hotels can staff earlier and better, and provide the level of services expected by their markets.