in-cyprus 15 May 2020 -Bouli Hadjioannou
The vast majority of catering establishments geared to the tourism market in the Ayia Napa – Protaras area will probably not open on May 21 when phase two of the relaxation of the lockdown permits their operation outdoors, but will await a clearer picture regarding tourism, Pambos Vassilas reports for Phileleftheros.
The paper says the owners of the 240 or so catering establishments in the free Famagusta area have serious reservations about opening.
With airports closed and tourism at a standstill, the free Famagusta area which is heavily reliant on visitors has been harshly affected by the economic ramifications of the coronavirus outbreak.
The owners of the catering establishments exchanged view by teleconference on Wednesday evening, with their president Vasos Xydias painting a bleak picture, Phileleftheros reports.
He said 90% of the 200 or so catering establishments geared towards tourism will not open as they anticipate no clientele.
These owners depend on tourism restarting. They will only reopen once airports open and a picture emerges whether there will be tourists and how many, he added.
“If it emerges that the viability of catering establishments geared towards tourists is doubtful from the anticipated number of tourists, then the majority of owners will opt not to open this year,” he said.
Many of the members had also cited the issue of the rents they owe and said that some companies are at risk of going bankrupt.
As regards catering establishments in the free Famagusta area that are geared toward Cypriot clientele and represent about 10% of the total nearly all will open on May 21, he added.
