Famagusta hotels pessimistic about January — efforts made to attract guests from Nordics, Central Europe

Hotels in the Famagusta district are expected to see occupancy rates ranging between 20 and 30 per cent during January and February, according to Panayiotis Constantinou, president of the Famagusta Hoteliers Association (Pasyxe).

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Tuesday, Constantinou explained that while there was some tourism activity during the Christmas holiday period, hotel occupancy averaged around 50-60 per cent.

However, he noted that January is expected to pose certain challenges, primarily related to decreased tourist interest.

“Sporting teams from European countries visiting the Ayia Napa area will partially contribute to hotel occupancy,” Constantinou said.

“However, due to the Gaza conflict, prospects for tourism in our region over the next few months look bleak,” he added.

Responding to a relevant question, Constantinou explained that March holds some potential for tourist attraction.

“Collaborating with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, we are exploring alternative markets and participating in tourism expos across Europe and the Middle East,” the Pasyxe president said.

“Our aim is to draw tourists from markets like Poland, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and Scandinavian countries to offset the gap created by the absence of Israeli tourists,” he added.

Moreover, he highlighted that while several hotels in the area had decent occupancy rates in recent months, even in November, the ongoing conflict in Israel has dampened interest among tour operators and other travel companies, who remain unsure as to the duration of the conflict and its repercussions on the industry.