Coronavirus: August worst in decades for Paphos tourism

[Paphos Life]

August is expected to be the worst in decades where hotel occupancy rates are concerned, chairman of the Paphos hotels association Thanos Michaelides said on Tuesday, as Cyprus faces the economic effects of the coronavirus crisis....

Read the article and chat about it below...

[Diocletian]

It is a difficult one this year. We are hoping to come back in late September as we have some Immigration appointments to fulfil, however I can see that the season as such is going to be devastated.

[Kili01]

I've just had notice from EasyJet that my flight back to the UK from Paphos In early August has been cancelled by. them. It's the third flight which I have booked to be cancelled. So, J am probably going to give up and stay where I am. It's just too much hassle.
Cyprus Govt are making it very difficult for flights to /from UK to land here. All due to the Covid 19 situation particularly in the UK. Also they have introduced the Cyprus Flight Pass which is another problem. Plus having to get a negative Covid test result within 72 hrs before leaving the UK. Or the Covid test at Paphos Airport which entails either hanging about to wait for the result, or spending time at a Govt arranged quarantine hotel.
Dee

[Adamsnews]

Ryanair are flying into PFO every other day at present from London Stansted (FR3131) and returning (FR3132) shortly after. As far as I am aware they have not cancelled any flights to Cyprus for a few weeks now.
Paul.

[Devil]

My daughter had been planning to come via Edelweiss from Geneva, later this month. She was advised yesterday that the flight had been cancelled, no reason given.

[trevnhil]

I don't think it is usual for flight companies to actually give a reason when they cancel a flight

[Kili01]

August probably will be a disastrous month for British tourist arrivals. But since the deputy tourism ministers dept has effectively stopped the British from coming with all the excessive demands that it is making, some of the British airlines who normally fly here have simply cancelled their flights here until the end of the month. Plus the fact that a number of countries around Europe and the Med have opened their doors to British travellers without making such demands.
Finally it has been noted by people in the UK who read this board and have seen some unfriendly remarks from some expats on here about not being wanted to come here.

Above all if the main body of tourists go elsewhere, Cyprus won't get the revenue that it was hoping for.
Dee

[71 Trans Am]

In the past two weeks I have spoken with two different families who have been trying to get out to Cyprus for weeks now and have both given up and are going to Spain. There is far too much hassle involved with a trip to Cyprus and I am not saying it is wrong or the fault of the Cypriot Government – The UK’s handling of events has been a disaster also but if some risks are not taken fairly soon as other tourist destinations are doing then Cyprus is going to be in big financial trouble. I can fully understand it is virus free zone at the moment but the island needs British Tourism and these costly tests and procedures and flight after flight being cancelled are putting people off.

[Uncle D]

Read on Twitter tonight that the two major UK tour companies, Tui and Jet2, are effectively saying to the Cyprus government: "If you insist on tests for tourists and refuse to upgrade the UK to Category A (it's currently Cat C), we're not going to bring tourists to Cyprus - we'll take them elsewhere".

But the options to go elsewhere have always been there, its always been cheaper to go to Spain the flights take half the time etc.
If people just want a holiday in the Sun that is probably their best bet. But if they want to go to Cyprus then that's what they want to do. The thing with Cyprus is its still hot here September to December, places like Greece are shutting down in October.
When the kids have gone back to school its a good holiday destination for older people and lets face it they are the main type of tourist.
Stuff the travel companies keep Cyprus Safe until the 'strong leader' that is Boris gets his house in order

[Jimgym]

I wonder what those who are worst affected by the lack of British tourists think? Do they have the same attitude? It's easy for those who aren't reliant on tourism to put food on their table etc to say keep Brits out, but for those who are desperate for money, it's a different story I guess. A horrible choice to have to make. I completely understand people saying we shouldn't let people in without tests etc, but it makes it more expensive for those families who do want to come here. What a bloody year!

[PhotoLady]

It's the process of getting the test results prior to travel, only being able to take the test no more than 72hrs before which is one big problem here in UK.
It doesn't leave time to get the results and required medical certificate returned to the passenger before their flight.
The second major factor is the huge cost involved as they can only be done privately at around £200 per person as we don't have the multiple private testing clinical labs on every corner as they do in Cyprus.
The best thing would be to rely on the flight pass form for all passengers and random tests on arrival as has been happening since Jet2holidays started flights again yesterday to Greece.
They could test some at the UK airport and others at the Cyprus end.
Tests costs provided by the departing and arrival airport authorities/government.
It's the only solution which will satisfy both ends of the deal. Cyprus will get tourists and the flights won't have to keep cancelling.
There are still flights being cancelled to many destinations and often only the day before. Hotels are either not opening or cannot take the same numbers of guests as normal. It's not been helped by flights being stopped as rooming lists aren't always getting through until the last minute due to late opening at the resort end.
It would be easier to scrap summer and concentrate on Winter destinations!