Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Chat with fellow forum users. No adverts or trade links in here please.
Post Reply
User avatar
71 Trans Am
Posts: 685
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 6:17 pm
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne and Paphos

Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by 71 Trans Am »

The island is expected to receive some 600,000 passengers in August, Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said Thursday, noting that this estimation includes people flying in on commercial and private planes.
Speaking from Larnaca Aiport, Karousos said “we are initiating efforts to restore our country’s connectivity in the best possible way,” noting that a deal has been reached with Hungarian low-cost airline WIZZ AIR to form a base at the airport.
“Initially, there will be two aircrafts, with the number to increase at a later stage, while 11 more flights toward 11 airports and seven countries will boost current routes,” Karousos said.
“The benefits for Cyprus are very important, in terms of both tourism and the economy, as jobs will be created,” Karousos said, adding that the company said its intentions are not to take away clients of its competitors but to create additional passenger flows.
The airline’s base in Laranaca Airport will serve to boost connectivity with countries and destinations that Cyprus did not enjoy in the past, Karousos said
Karousos noted that discussions are also being held with other major airlines, in view of creating additional flights and routes.
Reopening of airports
“There is a gradual lifting of measures,” Karousos said, noting that “we are kicking off on June 9, and by June 20 passengers from a number of countries won’t need to present a certificate [for coronavirus].”
The aim is for other countries to be steadily upgraded to the category of countries from which incoming passengers won’t need to present a certificate proving they have tested negative for the virus.
“According to our estimations and based on the facts we have so far, by August we should have around 600,000 passengers arriving in Cyprus.”
Dep. Tourism Minister: No one can know which airlines will survive the crisis
Commenting on the deal reached with the Hungarian airline, Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios said it is a “great success for Cyprus, particularly in the conditions in which we are living, as no one can know which airlines will manage to survive and how many flights they will be able to maintain globally.”
Perdios said the base, which will remain in Laranaca Airport for a period of 12 months, will also boost efforts for establishing the island as a winter destination.
User avatar
Devil
Forum Curmudgeon
Posts: 3940
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 8:34 am
Location: Mosfiloti

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by Devil »

To quote a well known character, 'I don't believe it! '. Where is he going to find 600,000 passengers who are willing to take a risk, who are possibly poorer off than they were a few months ago, who would have to risk being transported into a lockdown hotel, who could not be sure that their return flight would run et cetera, et cetera, et cetera! How many people have you heard say that they are not going to travel outside of Britain this year but probably will do next year. But 600,000 passengers by August? No! I don't believe it!
Jim B
Posts: 2750
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 5:42 am

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by Jim B »

According to my wifes family the virus is rampant in Kazahstan as it is in Russia, Kazakhs will be allowed to travel here in June and Russians and British in July. The virus will go through the island like a dose of salts.
No, I don't know what the answer is.

Jim
Last edited by Jim B on Fri May 29, 2020 11:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
WHL
Posts: 6862
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2017 2:43 pm

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by WHL »

Im not one of them,but there will be people looking to take a holiday, given Cyprus's excellent record in handling this virus, that might be a factor in people choosing to holiday here?.
User avatar
Jimgward
Posts: 3115
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:14 pm
Location: Lanark
Contact:

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by Jimgward »

Does anyone have a link to where it states which countries can come to Cyprus and when? Thanks.
harveywinning
Posts: 59
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2017 8:40 pm
Location: Peyia & Rutland

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by harveywinning »

Another factor is that a good proportion won't even consider coming to Cyprus unless Pools are open
Yioula
Posts: 810
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 11:55 am

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by Yioula »

The island needs tourism to survive, some look at life in a totally different light and if they have funds will take a holiday to the med, others will wait until next year which would definitely be my option, nobody really understands this virus 🦠 we are told people move it, so we will all know the outcome in September 🧐 if those suspected number arrive on the island 🥺
User avatar
cyprusmax47
Chief Cat Spotter
Posts: 4968
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:10 am
Location: Paphos area since 1982

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by cyprusmax47 »

Jimgward wrote: Fri May 29, 2020 11:11 am Does anyone have a link to where it states which countries can come to Cyprus and when? Thanks.
Here some info, translated from a German website......


Cyprus announced plans on Friday to gradually resume commercial flights from selected countries with low Covid-19 infection rates.

Transport Minister Yiannis Karousos said that the flights would start in two phases - 9 and 20 June - from two groups of countries.

The first group, from which flights to Cyprus could be resumed:, consists of Greece, Malta, Bulgaria, Norway, Austria, Finland, Slovenia, Hungary, Israel, Denmark, Germany, Slovakia and Lithuania.

The second group consists of Switzerland, Poland, Romania, Croatia, Estonia and the Czech Republic.

Karousos said that starting on 9 June, passengers arriving from countries in both groups must obtain a health certificate three days before departure, confirming that they have tested negative for corona.

From 20 June, passengers in the first group will no longer need a health certificate. Passengers from the second group will still need to present it on entry.

Aircraft arriving from a country that does not belong to any of the above-mentioned groups may only carry Cypriot citizens or foreigners who are permanently resident in Cyprus or persons who have been granted special permission.

These passengers must also obtain a health certificate three days before departure. They may also choose to be tested in Cyprus, but must isolate themselves for one day in accommodation provided for this purpose.

Passengers arriving from another country must isolate themselves at home for 14 days.

Anyone arriving from a country that does not issue health certificates or has failed to obtain one can be tested in Cyprus. Passengers must pay the costs of testing, quarantine accommodation and transport.

Karousos said hotels will reopen their doors on June 1. Of course, due to the above mentioned rules, this applies first to locals and from June 9th on also to holidaymakers from the above mentioned countries.

In the coming days, more countries will be added to the two groups, the minister said. Tourism representatives said medical experts would assess the course of the pandemic in Great Britain and Russia before flights from these countries could begin. However, the health authorities insist that the resumption of flights and the arrival of foreign travellers must not jeopardise Cyprus' successful handling of the pandemic so far.

Cyprus, with a population of around 880,000, has so far reported 927 confirmed coronavirus infections and 17 deaths. This means that the country has coped very well with the pandemic compared to other tourist destinations such as Spain or Turkey. All the more reason to choose Cyprus as a holiday destination.

The best offers for a carefree and relaxing holiday in Cyprus can be found here. If you only need a flight, then this is the way to go.


Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Source https://www.zypern-info.de/wiederaufnah ... ge-zypern/

Max
User avatar
71 Trans Am
Posts: 685
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 6:17 pm
Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne and Paphos

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by 71 Trans Am »

Cyprus Mail

Cyprus expects July comeback for tourists from Russia, Britain

Cyprus hopes to regain lost ground in its tourism sector from July and expects to be able to re-admit British and Russian visitors by then after weeks of lockdown, tourism minister Savvas Perdios said on Wednesday.
With hotels set to reopen on June 1, best expectations are that about 30 per cent of last year’s total of 3.98 million visitors will be received this year.
“The hit is massive, and we are trying to do our best now and do what we can for the remainder of the season. We have worked extremely hard to keep the virus in check here,” Perdios said.
The island will open on June 9 to travellers from countries including Germany, Greece and Israel. A group from mainly central Europe will be added on June 20, though Perdios said the list was being reviewed continuously.
“For our important markets like the UK, Russia and Sweden I expect in early July the situation (there) will allow their travel to Cyprus. I am quite optimistic about that,” Perdios said. Britain and Russia alone represent 55 per cent of arrivals.
Authorities have tightened health and safety protocols across the island. Contingency planning included covering the medical costs if a visitor fell ill with Covid-19 and setting up dedicated quarantine hotels, he said.
“We have taken a lot of measures… but at the same time we do understand that people want to come here on holiday so we haven’t converted Cyprus into a massive hospital,” he said.
User avatar
Jimgward
Posts: 3115
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2016 8:14 pm
Location: Lanark
Contact:

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by Jimgward »

Thanks Max and TransAm
Jimgym
Posts: 2429
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 7:37 am
Location: Paphos

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by Jimgym »

I really hope the virus doesn't take a hold here with visitors arriving. But, I see little choice in the matter, businesses need tourism to survive. As much as we can all sit behind our computer screens and critique each governments actions, the cold hard reality is people need to travel for others to earn a living.
Kili01
Posts: 4652
Joined: Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:41 am

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by Kili01 »

Well Cyprus has already offered to pay for any visitors who come down with Covid to have free medical, hospital, treatment and for their families to go into Govt (quarantine) hotels for 14 days... all they have to pay for is their taxi to the airport and the repatriation flight.
They have also said that they intend to use a separate hospital with intensive care if needed, just for visitors. They say it will have 100 beds. They seem to have thought of everything!
But there will obviously be risks to all who live here, as visitors will be everywhere, tavernas, bars, clubs, shops etc. So take care is probably good advice. Avoid crowded places, social distancing and use masks and gloves. Which we are all getting used to! Its the new normal!

Dee
WHL
Posts: 6862
Joined: Sat Mar 25, 2017 2:43 pm

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by WHL »

mouse wrote: Fri May 29, 2020 5:17 pm Well Mr Karousos, all theses people coming on holiday who have been on unpaid leave for 2 months, paying at least double or triple for flights and have to pay for a covid test before coming to Cyprus and the possibility of spending the first 2 weeks of their 1 week holiday in quarantine, 600, 000 ? Perhaps not this year, May be next year.
Regards the air fairs, your just guessing, no more no less.
Jim B
Posts: 2750
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2016 5:42 am

Re: Cyprus expects 600,000 tourists by August

Post by Jim B »

Lloyd
I hope you're right but there is talk of allowing tourists from Russia and the UK mid July. The death toll in the UK is still running in the hundreds per day and Russia is just fiddling the figures; as you know I have family over there and the virus is out of control. In fact a large percentage believe the virus is a hoax and all kind of conspiracy theories are doing the rounds.
I know the government are stuck between a rock and a hard place and will be dammed if they don't and dammed if they do; I'm relieved I don't have to make the decision on what to do.

Jim
Post Reply