Paphos Life

The estimation that the tourism industry is still suffering and threatened by the unlawful beds offered on the market was made by the Mayor of Paphos, Phaedon Phaedon.

In his statements to the CNA , Mr Phaidon said that Paphos, as the province receiving the highest percentage of tourism, is particularly concerned about this phenomenon, which leads to unfair competition with legitimate businesses and the loss of significant income both of the state and the Local Authority.


Indicatively, he mentioned that 10,000 beds in Paphos operate illegally and constitute the expression of "terror" for legitimate businesses.

This situation continued, both the state and the local government lost revenue.

He added, however, that in Paphos the beds have multiplied and the hotel infrastructure has been refurbished and modernized to a large extent.

The tourist product has been upgraded, offering many competitive advantages, while Paphos remains firmly in charge of real estate sales.

The Mayor of Pafos reported that unemployment is still at a relatively high rate of 6%, almost double in the winter.

In addition, Paphos remains the province with the highest proportion of minimum guaranteed income recipients (EWCs), while a significant number of local workers have been replaced by 16,000 foreign workers.

Of course, replacing foreigners with local labor is not an easy task - as he said - as many Cypriot EWC recipients prefer to receive the allowance and sit at home rather than work on jobs they consider inferior.

At the same time, hundreds of young Paphos scientists who have attended Higher Education Institutions abroad can not return to their home because there is no work commensurate with their qualifications, he added.
Mr. Phaedon noted that the Paphos Local Authority, open-minded and focused on the big picture, is taking initiatives and actions, creating opportunities and responding to challenges by building the face and the profile of the outward-looking city that wants and can play a role in Eastern The Mediterranean and the Middle East.

Indicatively, he referred to the use of the international airport, the connection of the airport and the city of Paphos with the areas of Pegeia and Polis Chrysochous via a modern road network and the development of higher education through modern infrastructure.


PafosPress

Are there plans for another road to Peyia then? Or are they just going to extend the dual carriageway?

The Pafos mayor should have more concerns, like rising crime, infrastructure, poor quality, cleaning up closed shops, eyesores like Land of the Kings etc.

Barking dogs, especially at night, that ensure tourists don't return.

But people stopping in self catering apartments and houses spend money in the community, people in all inclusive hotels often don't even leave the hotel, spending only what they paid at home for the holiday.

So why do you think he's kicking off now?

If everbody came TUI AI (TUI have most hotels groups in an armlock to benefit their profits) what would happen to the restaurants and businesses that do not benefit from TUI tours!!
Cyprus needs travellers a total different breed of holiday maker who actually embrace what Cyprus is about spending their money in local Taverna etc........
The Mayor has done some excellent work for Paphos but I feel he is now coming off his track .........WHY ?

Hudswell wrote: ↑Sun Nov 11, 2018 2:41 pm The Paphos mayor is talking out of his bottom...these 10,000 "illegal" beds probably contribute more to the local economy than a dozen or so All Inclusive tourist traps...

Hear hear. Since there is currently no mechanism whatsoever to 'register' these beds via the (now defunct) CTO or any other method until the new law change comes in - I fail to see how it is 'illegal'.

There is a very small group of people that this man actually appears to like in my opinion. Paphians don't seem to be one of them hence the dig at those on low income allowance - pretty low if you ask me. I know a few - particularly those who were in the banking sector who have recently found work in retail. And a further dig at those who chose to send their children to university. I wonder if people who make such comments plan to forego their own children's university education and instead encourage them to train to work in a bar in a Paphos hotel? Yes we need local workers to do this work but who are they to dictate to parents who aspire to something's better for their children. Why do some people think they are better and more deserving than others. Mr mayor should concentrate on finishing off the eyesores like the 'monorail' and the elevator in town and try to come up with some ideas on how to fill the many areas of white marble and concrete he has created with some actual real people.

Jeanne

Where did he make a dig at kids in university? This is all I can see:

"At the same time, hundreds of young Paphos scientists who have attended Higher Education Institutions abroad can not return to their home because there is no work commensurate with their qualifications, he added. "

That isn't a dig at the students. I see that more as an acknowledgement that Paphos needs to broaden its outlook away from just tourism. When you look at the business parks being planned for Geroskipou etc, perhaps the mayor has that in mind? I don't know, but I certainly didn't see his remark as a dig at students.

We'll have to disagree Dominic. The context in which it was written was an article about workshy Paphians and foreigners doing the jobs so he must be alluding to the suggestion that locals should be filling those roles. I don't see anywhere that he refers to investment and broadening of horizons to enable these 'scientists' to come home. Maybe I am just a cynic. I have never believed that you can educate and inform people by criticising them or publically shaming them. I think it would be nice in the future to have the correct balance in a leader - one who embraces the business community, the buildings and infrastructure and ALL of the local community in order to get everyone on board and caring for their local community.

Jeanne

The next bit after my first quote:

Mr. Phaedon noted that the Paphos Local Authority, open-minded and focused on the big picture, is taking initiatives and actions, creating opportunities and responding to challenges by building the face and the profile of the outward-looking city that wants and can play a role in Eastern The Mediterranean and the Middle East.

I guess, working off a translation probably obliterates some of the meaning too. Believe you me though, if your interpretation is correct I would agree with you though.

I once went to see "The Unbearable Lightness Of Being" with somebody. On discussing the film afterwards (only for about 10 seconds, it was shit) we managed to interpret the ending COMPLETELY differently.

Funnily enough, I just googled "unbearable lightness of being summary" so I could see who was right. The webpage said "Something bad happened. Sorry." which I thought was a very cruel but accurate summary of the movie, but turned out to be a network 500 error indicating a bug on the website.

Having just sold my property in UK after 19 years renting it after moving abroad and dealing with the UK tax authorities, I think most 'renters' here in Cyprus would welcome the opportunity to become legal by paying tax on the rental income as long as they would be able to offset any expenses incurred in the letting process against that income.

As far as registering with some sort of tourist authority, what would be the reason for this? If it were to ensure that the property being let was up to standard, then I would ask what local authority department is tasked with ensuring that all properties, whether or not they are being considered to be rented whether for tourist purposes or normal residential purposes, are up to standard when they are first built. None as far as I can see.

I would also add that if anecdotal evidence regarding inspection of restaurants and the like, is anything to go by then despite receiving approval one year the following year's inspection (carried out by a jobsworth) always unfairly highlights another remote problem to be resolved. It is not surprising that there is a reluctance to connect with any regulatory authority.

Presumably that would prevent people turning an apartment in a complex into an Air BNB?

I would have thought that would be popular with residents, given criticisms I've read in the past.

Happy in Cyprus wrote: ↑Mon Nov 12, 2018 6:16 pm It'll be almost impossible to legislate against Airb'n'b or Hotel.com house or apartment rentals, just as it's almost impossible to legislate against Uber or any of the other new app/internet based booking systems.

If someone in the UK wants to advertise their apartment to rent in Paphos, who's going to stop them? And how? This is Canute-like thinking. The World has moved from from the package holidays we all used to take 30 years ago.

Our family has used both Airb'n'b and Hotels.com to rent apartments and houses in both the UK and Holland...and being blunt about it, no-one's going to stop me doing it again.

You can't push water uphill and you can't stop the sea of change which has come about in people customising their holidays abroad to suit themselves.

Oi! You really need get your facts straight re Canute.

Then there is the lack of joined up, long term thinking on the part of the Mayor. Let's say that he manages to ban all these 'unlawful' beds. What are landlords/owners going to do?

1) Sell their properties and, if this happens in sufficient numbers, it will blow a hole in the resale market and indirectly do the same to the new property market. So the developers will suffer.

2) If the owners have loans against the properties, one possibility is they will default on their loans and, if they are non-residents of Cyprus, good luck to the banks in chasing those non-residents. So there could be a lot of repossessed properties coming on to the market with the same consequences as described in (1).

(3)The local complex maintenance companies will go out of business as there will be no complexes to maintain as no owners will be willing to foot an ever increasing bill due to the ever increasing number of non-paying owners.

So the mayor might be acting for fat-cat hoteliers, but will be acting against many property owners, developers and banks to name but three. (By the way, do these hoteliers pay their utility bills?)

With the cost to stay in one of the up-market hotels being prohibitive there will also be a hole blown in the non all-inclusive market with a commensurate hole in the local economy which affect everyone.

One of the problems in Cyprus is the very low VAT threshold. Holiday lets (unlike long term rentals) are a Vatable supply. A significant number of holiday property owners - especially villa owners - will exceed the threshold of 15,600 and will need to register for VAT.

Jeanne

Lofos-Jan wrote: ↑Tue Nov 13, 2018 3:13 pm One of the problems in Cyprus is the very low VAT threshold. Holiday lets (unlike long term rentals) are a Vatable supply. A significant number of holiday property owners - especially villa owners - will exceed the threshold of 15,600 and will need to register for VAT.

Jeanne

Deoends where you pay tax - and VAT

Lofos-Jan wrote: ↑Tue Nov 13, 2018 3:13 pm One of the problems in Cyprus is the very low VAT threshold. Holiday lets (unlike long term rentals) are a Vatable supply. A significant number of holiday property owners - especially villa owners - will exceed the threshold of 15,600 and will need to register for VAT.

15½K income that's €300 every week of the year - I don't think what I thought was a successful holiday let will match that!

Lofos-Jan wrote: ↑Tue Nov 13, 2018 3:13 pm One of the problems in Cyprus is the very low VAT threshold. Holiday lets (unlike long term rentals) are a Vatable supply. A significant number of holiday property owners - especially villa owners - will exceed the threshold of 15,600 and will need to register for VAT.

Jeanne

Registering for VAT like all the ad-hoc tradespeople here, like painters, builders, car repairers and the like DON'T. And Hairdressers who keep 2 appointment books; one for actual customers & the other for tax inspectors!

It would appear that a blind eye is turned, as these people have been trading & advertising for years!