The deputy minister of tourism Costas Koumis was very proud of the fact that last year’s tourist arrivals exceeded four million for the first time. Koumis had expected arrivals to surpass the four million mark, but last week the Statistical Service confirmed the numbers.

In a statement on Friday, Koumis referred to “a historic record that is accompanied by another historic record, given that the revenue from tourism is also expected, for the first time to be above €3 billion.” He said these numbers were particularly pleasing considering the many challenges facing Cyprus at the start to 2024, such as the instability in the Middle East and the difficult economic conditions in the EU.

The setting of a record “was not and is not an end in itself”, said the deputy minister, pointing out that tourism was not “just about arrival and revenue stats”. The priority for the government was “the strengthening of the resilience of the tourism sector” he said, mentioning the thousands of small businesses of the sector which enjoyed good economic results last year.

While increased arrivals and revenue might not be an end in themselves, the government still made a big song and dance when it became apparent that new tourism records would be set. Nobody can deny the big benefits for the economy in general – not just for the tourism industry – but we need to consider the consequences of the rise in arrivals, for the local population.

Will we continue to pursue new records regardless of the effects this has on the environment, our resources and the labour market? Larger tourist numbers put a big strain on our water resources and push up prices of local products because of higher demand, not to mention the rampant construction on all coastal areas as more and more hotels and holiday apartments are being built. Should there not be a limit placed on all this development? Should we also mention the overcrowded, popular beaches which make a day at the beach during the summer months an ordeal?

The authorities must recognise that record revenue from tourism also has a downside, as it affects the quality of life of the natives and puts our resources under strain. As for the targeting of ‘quality tourism’, to which lip service is paid by politicians and tourism officials, it will never happen. Cyprus is a mass tourism destination, its infrastructure designed for this tourism model, and this cannot be changed, regardless of what the politicians might occasionally say. Our tourism model has always been about the numbers and never about quality.

Can this model be sustained indefinitely? In Spain, the local populations of several popular tourist resorts are protesting because the invasion of large numbers of tourists every year negatively affects their lives. Could this also happen in Cyprus someday or will the population remain committed to the increasing revenue streams?

Regardless of public sentiment, the authorities should start looking at tourist numbers and try to determine the optimum number of visitors per year. We cannot go on seeking growth in arrivals without giving any considerations to the impact this will have on the local population.