Cyprus tourism stakeholders struck a slightly more upbeat note this week after an expanded meeting at the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, saying recent weeks had brought more encouraging signals even as the sector continued to grapple with weaker demand. 

The meeting, chaired by Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis, focused on the current state of the tourism sector and the next steps needed in the short term, according to a press release from the ministry.

Representatives from the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve), the Employers and Industrialists Federation (Oev), Cyprus Hotel Association (Pasyxe), the Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises (Stek), Association of Cyprus Travel & Tourism Agents (ACTTA), Cyprus Hotel Managers Association (Pasydixe) and Hermes Airports took part. 

According to the ministry, participants exchanged views on the latest data and put forward suggestions on the actions needed to help reverse the current trend in tourism, which remains marked by reduced demand. 

At the same time, those attending agreed that the sector was facing an unusual set of conditions, while noting that the messages emerging in recent weeks had been more positive than in the period before. 

They also agreed on the need for constant communication and a collective effort to strengthen cooperation across the sector.