In the first four months of 2024, hotels in Paphos experienced lower occupancy rates compared to the same period in 2023, according to Evelina Komodromou, the Deputy Chairperson of the Paphos Hotel Association. She mentioned that the current political climate is causing a more cautious approach worldwide.

In her statements to the Cypriot News Agency, Ms. Komodromou noted that the ongoing conflict in Israel contributed to this situation. Until October 2023, the Israeli market in the Paphos region had seen significant growth.

Additionally, she continued, the fact that Catholic Easter is much earlier this year also played a role, prompting some travelers to choose other destinations like Turkey and Spain.

Ms. Komodromou also pointed out that the stagnation in the market is expected to last until May 15, after which a strong dynamic from the British market is anticipated. She estimated that due to this stagnation, the first four months of 2024 might not reach desired levels.

When asked, she mentioned that about 60% of hotels in the Paphos region remain closed during this period. Those that are operational are recording occupancy rates of around 50%, 60%, or even 70%, but at the expense of lower competitive prices.

She added that Cyprus's competitors during this period are countries like Turkey and Egypt, destinations with lower living standards. Regarding Valentine's Day, she expects significant visitation from the Cypriot market to the hotels in the Paphos region.

Ms. Komodromou also noted a change in the customer profile, with tourists from Croatia, Austria, Italy, Poland, and Germany choosing Paphos for their holidays. She mentioned that new flights to Paphos Airport have brought a different profile of customers to the region.

She further stated that due to legislation encouraging Airbnb and other licensed accommodations, there is a profile of tourists who prefer to stay in such places.

There has been a significant increase in both licensed and unlicensed accommodations, she observed.

When asked about the major problems hoteliers face today, Ms. Komodromou cited labor force as a longstanding issue, affecting not only Cyprus but all of Europe.

She mentioned that the government has changed its approach regarding employment from third countries, noting meetings at the relevant Ministry and an understanding of the concerns. "For this reason," she continued, "we have implemented new procedures for expediting the application processes from third countries."

This year, she continued, the processes for employing these individuals started much earlier, although there are still some delays. Ms. Komodromou mentioned the need to strengthen the hotel industry's workforce, as some Cypriots have left the hotel industry, and some foreigners who worked in Cyprus have also left.

Finally, she referred to the construction projects on the Paphos coastal front, expressing concern about their delay and emphasizing the need for timely completion.

Unfortunately, she concluded, this has caused significant inconvenience to tourists, reflected in comments on websites and various forums. While the center of Paphos has become beautiful, the delays in construction projects in the tourist area are problematic.