Larnaca restaurants satisfied with holiday period, sound alarm over high costs

Restaurants and bars in the Larnaca district are content with the business they received during the Christmas and New Year holidays, according to Tony Konnaris, the district secretary of Pasika, the Pancyprian Association of Owners of Recreation Centres.

In statements made to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Konnaris stated that “business activity in entertainment centres in Larnaca during the Christmas and New Year holidays did not go as expected, as there were several last-minute cancellations due to the coronavirus”.

“These were eventually compensated by people who decided they wanted to go out and have fun,” he added, noting that venue owners “are quite satisfied with the business turnover they had during the festive period”.

Responding to a related question, Konnaris expressed the opinion that “the war in Gaza did not affect the turnover in entertainment centres, despite the fact that in previous years we had many customers from Israel during this period”.

Regarding the business turnover during the previous year, Konnaris said that “2023 was considerably better”, and deemed as such by business owners, as there was significant tourism in Larnaca until the end of October.

“People were leaving hotels and visiting taverns and restaurants to try the Cypriot cuisine, while many tourists also went out to local bars and cafes,” he added.

“Another reason for the good activity recorded in the entertainment centres in 2023,” he continued, “was that Cypriots were tired of the restrictions of the previous years due to the pandemic and wanted to go out more regularly to have fun”.

“However, in the last 2-3 months, the business turnover has decreased due to high costs and prices, which does not allow a family to go out every week or even every 15 days to visit taverns and restaurants for food and entertainment,” Konnaris explained.

What is more, the Osika district secretary said that the increased prices of many products observed in recent months has greatly affected the operation of entertainment centres, which are still unsure as to how long this problem will last and what ramifications it may still have.

“We have requested several times in the past and continue to ask for state intervention to find ways to stabilise prices, reduce high costs, and address profiteering by business owners collaborating with entertainment centres,” he said.

At the same time, he referred to a survey conducted by the Cyprus Consumer Association, whose findings indicated that Larnaca is the cheapest city in free Cyprus, stating that “perhaps this is also the reason that allows entertainment centres to have a good business turnover”.

“But also, the profiteering observed by some colleagues does not help these particular businesses at all, as this adversely affects an industry that already has several problems to deal with,” he added.

“We understand that the consumer association does not have the authority to intervene and impose sanctions or fines on companies and entrepreneurs who profit at the expense of others, as its role is somewhat advisory,” Konnaris explained.

“This should be done by the government, the relevant ministries, and other authorities,” he concluded.