Filenews 4 February 2021 - by Pambos Vasilas
Efforts, which they now call a struggle, are being made by some 130 owners of vessels on coastal cruises in Cyprus to convince the Government that they are in a desperate economic situation and that they need immediate financial support. They point out that last year, because of the measures on the crown and the reduced arrivals of tourists, they were unable to work, or worked so little, that they were unable to even cover the state taxes and social security they have to pay. It should be noted that about 50 of the owners of coastal cruise ships operate in Famagusta province, which receives more than 40% of the total per year.
Speaking to "F", their representatives said that they are currently in consultation with fellow shipowners in other coastal provinces in order to coordinate their efforts to get their messages to the Government. Which, they point out, they failed to achieve in 2020. However, on the basis of estimates that probably the first half of 2021 should be considered lost in terms of tourist turnout, the owners of coastal cruise boats are reheating their efforts for state support.
As some of the owners of the vessels say, first of all they find it absurd and unacceptable to be asked to pay by the Department of Merchant Shipping docking fees for their vessels, at a time when they have been demonstrably without income for about a year. The second request is that any grant approved for their vessels be given per vessel and not per company, or companies, because there are cases of shipowners who are retired and who are left out of possible future sponsorships that may be given. They also ask the Department of Fisheries to reinstate the way their vessels are taxed in the old system, in which they paid fees based on the length of the vessel, which was listed on its registration certificate. And not based on its maximum length, since some boat extensions are usually decorative and do not relate to the number of passengers they accept.
With regard to Famagusta province, the owners of the boats stationed in Protaras also complain against the Municipality of Paralimni, which asks them for a total rent of €5,300 to allow them to have small offices at the entrance of the dock from which their boats start. In a year, they point out, it's doubtful how many months they'll be able to work. The affected professionals ask if not to be given the rent for this year, or at least the Municipality of Paralimni to give them 50%. "The industry is at an impasse and some professionals, especially those with loans, may not make it through the crisis. We need substantial help and immediate. That's the message we want to get to the government side," industry members said.
