Tourism sector in Ayia Napa, Protaras records €15m loss in 2020

The tourism sector of the eastern coastal destinations of Ayia Napa and Protaras suffered losses estimated at €15 million during the current tourist season as a result of the stem in tourist arrivals against the backdrop of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Paralimni Mayor Theodoros Pyrillis told the Cyprus News Agency that the financial repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic have strongly affected the tourist area of Paralimni, despite domestic tourism in July and August.

Pyrillis said hotel capacity reached just 60%, while only a third of businesses resumed operation after the easing of lockdown measures. Just Paralimni is estimated to have recorded losses of around €5 million, he said.

With the onset of September, Pyrillis said hotel capacity is expected to plummet to levels below 15%, but said he retains hope that 2021 will see a return to pre-coronavirus levels.

Ayia Napa Mayor Christos Zannettou said losses this year were estimated at €10 million and expressed hope that things would change next year, noting that development projects were in the pipeline for the municipality.

Zannettou said the whole area is dependent on tourism and that many people were still unemployed and production in various economic sectors, particularly agriculture and trade, remain low.