Hotel occupancy in Cyprus is nearing full capacity after 16 flights were diverted from Israel to Larnaca and Paphos airports, following Israel’s strike on Iran. The roughly 2,400 passengers from those flights are now being housed in hotels across the island.

“We were informed by the deputy ministry of tourism that the passengers of these 16 flights are looking for hotels through the Estia scheme,” president of the Cyprus Hotel Association, Marios Polyviou, told Philenews.

“In Larnaca, there is very little availability because the Israelis who were about to depart asked to extend their stay and their flights were canceled,” Polyviou continued.

According to Polyviou, the hotel occupancy rate in Larnaca is reaching 90 per cent. “As soon as people start to be channeled into the hotels, they will be full,” he said.

Euripides Loizides, the president of the Paphos Hoteliers Association, told CNA that the goal is to provide immediate service so people do not gather at the airport.

Loizides said that 15 hotel units are expected to accommodate people who will be forced to remain in Paphos, with 25 hotel units accommodating people starting Sunday.

A circular will be sent to all hotels to immediately record available beds in the Famagusta area, given that Ayia Napa and Protaras have the most tourist beds in Cyprus.

However, Polyviou said that availability even in the Famagusta area is not very high as some hotels are overcrowded, and overall occupancy rates range from 80 to 90 per cent.

“June records quite high occupancy rates, so sporadically, some hotel rooms will be available,” Polyviou said. “Where we can, we will help.”

Recent developments in the Middle East and the closure of airspace have sparked concern in the tourism industry, especially as Israel makes up Larnaca’s second largest tourist market. 

“We are waiting to see how the situation will develop. There is no reason to panic at the moment,” Polyviou said. “Everything will depend on whether we have an escalation of the conflicts.”