Newsroom
With flights to Israel suddenly rerouted to Cyprus due to rising tensions in the region, hotels in Paphos have quickly stepped up to accommodate unexpected visitors.
Euripides Loizides, president of the Paphos Hoteliers Association, told CNA that about 10 flights originally headed to Israel, from Italy, other parts of Europe, and even the U.S., were forced to land at Paphos Airport.
“This caught a lot of people off guard,” Loizides said. “But the hotel community here is pulling together to make sure these travelers are looked after.”
Right now, around 15 hotels in Paphos are welcoming these diverted passengers, with that number expected to grow to 25 by Sunday. Hoteliers have been sharing information about available rooms, and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism is helping coordinate accommodations.
“Our main goal is to get people settled quickly so they don’t have to wait at the airport for hours, especially given the stressful situation,” Loizides added.
While many guests are being placed in hotels through this effort, some have found their own places to stay, including Airbnb rentals and walk-ins at local hotels.
The Paphos Hoteliers Association is staying ready as more flights may be diverted in the coming days.
“It’s an evolving situation, but we’re committed to helping however we can,” Loizides said. “People didn’t expect to be here, but we want them to feel welcome while they wait.”
