Coronavirus: Over 200 hotels take part in discount scheme for vaccinated clientele

Over 200 hotels in Cyprus are taking part in the government scheme valid from July 16 to August 31 which subsidises tourist accommodation costs for those who have been vaccinated or recently recovered from coronavirus.

The scheme, which is open for citizens and permanent residents, is proving to be a strong incentive for people when they organise their holidays, the director general of the Hoteliers’ Association (Pasyxe) Philokypros Roussounides said on Monday.

The state will cover 35 per cent of the cost of a double room for a maximum price of €80 per night, including breakfast at the minimum stay of three nights for those who have been vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19 in the past 180 days.

“What this effectively means is that customers taking advantage of the scheme could end up paying as little as €50 for their stay at hotels, which is a great offer,” Roussounides told the Cyprus Mail.

“The scheme extends the domestic incentive scheme that was already in place before July and August and which will last until November,” he added.

Meanwhile, Roussounides revealed that over 100 hotels have adhered to the plan involving mobile vaccination doing the rounds around the country to vaccinate staff.

According to Pasyxe, last week more than 50 per cent of hotel employees were still unvaccinated.

“Around 2,000 hotel employees have already showed interest in receiving the first dose of the Covid-19 jabs,” Roussounides said.

The mobile vaccination units’ initiative was a brainchild of Pasyxe in cooperation with the ministry of health.

The association’s hope is to see the number of vaccinated hotel employees in the weeks to come grow sensibly.

The list of hotels is to be announced soon.