In December, the occupancy rate of hotels in the Paphos district fluctuated between 35% and 40%, according to Euripides Loizides, President of the Paphos Hotel Association. He noted that December was a "good month" relative to expectations.

Currently, 8,500 beds are available in hotels and tourist accommodations in Paphos, all licensed by the Deputy Ministry of Tourism.

Mr. Loizides reported that occupancy increased during the Christmas and New Year holidays, reaching 80% - 85% in some Paphos hotels at certain times.

However, he observed that January is considered the most challenging month of the year. While the first twenty days of February are also difficult, the situation starts to improve afterward.

When asked, Mr. Loizides mentioned the excellent cooperation with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism. He highlighted efforts to tap into new markets such as Germany, France, and Poland, particularly after issues arose with arrivals from Ukraine, Russia, and Israel.

He added that a significant digital campaign, costing 850,000 euros and spanning three years until 2024, has been conducted in collaboration with ETAP. This campaign has effectively increased visitation and tourism in Paphos.

Mr. Loizides noted that in 2023, occupancy was 3.8% lower than the record year of 2019. He pointed out that although 2023 saw improved hotel visitation compared to 2022, it was still 150,000 tourists short of the 2019 numbers. He also mentioned that operational costs were significantly higher than revenues. Additionally, the high cost of increased interest rates this year severely impacted profitability.

He emphasized the need for extensive effort and work to compensate for the loss of tourists from Israel, Russia, and Ukraine.

Regarding sports tourism, the President of the Paphos Hotel Association remarked that they do not expect many sports teams from European countries for training due to a lack of fields and sports infrastructure in Paphos.