The President of the District Committee of the Paphos Hoteliers Association, Mr. Evripidis Loizidis, expressed his satisfaction, stating that the hotel occupancy in Paphos is expected to exceed 80%. This is a significant increase compared to the corresponding month in 2022. While April and May experienced slightly lower occupancy rates, the situation improved dramatically from mid-June onwards. It is anticipated that July and August will reach occupancy levels similar to those recorded in 2019.

Mr. Loizidis also highlighted the positive outlook for August, which is expected to surpass the occupancy rates of July. However, he cautioned that it is currently challenging to make precise predictions regarding September's performance.

Overall, Mr. Loizidis stated that this year's tourism season is showing improvement compared to 2022, although it has not yet reached the levels achieved in 2019.

When discussing market trends, Mr. Loizidis pointed out that the English, Polish, Israeli, and German markets are all active in the Paphos region. While the German market has a slightly lower number of visitors, the other markets are contributing positively to the overall occupancy.

Turning to operational challenges, Mr. Loizidis emphasized that staffing remains a significant issue for hoteliers. Although some permits have been granted, it can take up to two months to fully complete the staffing process. Additionally, towards the end of August, many students who are currently employed in the hotels are expected to leave to pursue their studies.

In terms of costs, Mr. Loizidis acknowledged that operational expenses, including the cost of raw materials and energy, are considerably high. He also highlighted the impact of banking charges on the industry.

Lastly, Mr. Loizidis stressed that the burden of interest rates is detrimental to the tourism industry, describing it as a significant obstacle. He urged for measures to be implemented to alleviate this burden and support the sector's growth.