Christmas business down 50-65 per cent at recreation centres

Business at leisure and recreations centres were down between 50 and 65 per cent over the holiday weekend, the association of recreation centres (Osika) said on Monday.

The measures taken to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic affected traffic at leisure centres throughout the island during the holidays due to cancellations, Osika’s Paphos president Neophytos Thrasyvoulou told CNA.
Thrasyvoulou said that due to situation, many planned events had been cancelled, while some others did not plan at all. Business was down 50-65 per cent, he said.

He said there had been an increase in traffic in the mountainous villages. However few people sat to eat, preferring instead to order takeaways.

“We are following the developments in all countries and we must keep a balance between suffering businesses and the pandemic situation,” he said.

Similarly, a representative of the Povek, the small shopkeepers union in Paphos told CNA that pedestrian traffic to local shops was paralysed over the holidays, despite shopkeepers having put on their best fronts “to keep alive the spirit of Christmas”.

Povek Paphos president Andreas Evripidou said: “Unfortunately the pandemic left its marks everywhere”.
“The aim of the shopkeepers was to keep alive the spirit of Christmas, giving a breath of optimism, hope and a festive atmosphere throughout the city, with priority given to the safety and protection of citizens,” he said.

However the indicators, he added, were extremely ominous. “Worse days are forecast”, not only due to the fact that the incomes of small and medium-sized businesses and craftsmen are reduced.

“All these companies, he continued, will need long-term support due to their accumulated obligations to the various services of the state such as fees, and licence renewals,” He added.