Tourism prospects completely lost, Famagusta hoteliers say

All tourism prospects for this year are definitively lost, the Famagusta branch of the Cyprus Hotel Association claimed after a meeting between its board of directors and the president of ruling party Disy Averof Neophytou.

“It was identified that tourism and the hotel industry in the Famagusta district and generally across Cyprus is undergoing tough times, and that the 2020 tourism year has been lost,” the announcement said.

It added that Neophytou was briefed on the state of tourism in the Famagusta district, “which does not seem positive at all and the messages being received from several markets are not at all encouraging.”

Hoteliers also expressed concern that more hotels than necessary resumed operation, which may result in larger financial problems.

But hoteliers also conceded that public health comes first, and that it would be too risky to allow tourists in without a coronavirus test.

The announcement noted that Neophytou “was also informed on the problems faced by hoteliers and hotel employees as regards subsidies by the state,” while evaluations were made for this year and 2021, “which is expected to be an even more difficult year.”