Filenews 9 February 2022
Optimistic messages about Cyprus from Russian tour operators and airlines, have been received from Moscow said the Deputy Minister of Tourism Savvas Perdios.
Mr. Perdios is in Moscow for the second time in a few weeks for meetings with Russian government officials, and had earlier visited the Russian capital for meetings with tour operators and airlines.
"There is widespread optimism in the Russian market about travelling abroad and especially about Cyprus, we have always made it to the top preferences of the market, but also especially in the midst of a pandemic," Mr. Perdios told CNA from Moscow.
The first visit was made in order to inform the tour operators and the airlines about the new protocol, as well as about the emergency incentive plan of the Deputy Ministry, which was approved by the European Union.
"It is no coincidence that arrivals have already begun from Russia - after some hoteliers had informed us that they had never had arrivals from Russia at this time - and this I think is directly related to our last trip," he added.
Request for charter flights and increase of flights from regional airports
In the new visit, the Deputy Minister of Tourism met with the Minister of Transport and the head of the competent Tourism Authority of the Russian Federation, in order to convey to them the request to allow charter flights to Cyprus, which have stopped during the pandemic, as well as to operate more flights from regional airports of the country.
"These impediments existed last year and we wanted to ask with private briefings to ask for a review of these two issues and we informed about our own moves to facilitate travel," the Deputy Minister of Tourism said, adding that Cyprus' arguments include the approval of the sputnik and sputnik light vaccines and facilities such as the free quarantine for those tourists who become ill in Cyprus.
When asked about the response he received to the Cypriot requests, Mr. Perdios said that his interlocutors have not revealed their thoughts yet, "but I am sure it is something that will trouble them because they heard in person what we did to facilitate them and how we provide safety to travelers".
He explained that, as is the case in Cyprus, the Russian authorities have a specialized committee for the management of the pandemic.
Cyprus has an air connection with Moscow, St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Samara, Krasnodar, Kazan, Perm, Novogrood, Novosibirsk, Rostov, Ufa, Kaliningrad, Omsk, Volgokrand, Voronez, Tyumen and Minerariye Voti.
"It is good that we have infiltrated regional cities, we want to take another step and allow more flights per week from regional airports for each airline," Mr. Perdios said, adding that if these two requests are met, this will increase tourist arrivals from Russia beyond the approximately half a million last year.
"We will be talking about numbers beyond 2021, but based on the situation we have today," the Deputy Minister of Tourism said.
At the same time, Mr. Perdios said that the other reason for the new visit to the Russian capital was in view of some exhibitions starting in Russia from next month, but also in view of the start of the holiday plans by the people.
"It is very important that Cyprus makes the choices of travellers from Russia, the media and the airlines", before the promotion from other countries began, he added.
Finally, Mr. Perdios also said that the Deputy Ministry of Tourism booked a new appointment with both bodies in June, probably in the context of the Economic Forum in St. Petersburg.
Better picture than 2021
Asked about the bigger picture for 2022, given that the situation in relation to travel is normalizing, Mr. Perdios remarked that after making trips to 20 countries, including the main markets of Cyprus, it seems that there is a climate change this year, which stems from the fact that we know how a destination works in terms of managing the pandemic, high vaccination in many countries, but also the change in the psychology of the world.
He also pointed out that based on Google data, searches for Cyprus are double and triple compared to the same period last year.
"This also shows the willingness to travel and I believe that because we informed in time about the new protocol and the incentives, I think we will do better than 2021 with the data before us today."
But he noted that there will be a cleaner picture by the end of March when the summer season is approaching. "The fact is that demand is high not only for Cyprus but for travel in general," he added.
Short-term solutions to job needs
Asked about the needs for jobs, which are recorded in the tourism industry, Mr. Perdios said that the issue falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour, adding however that there are short-term solutions until the problem is addressed.
As he mentioned, the Turkish Cypriots who applied for work through guilds in the free areas could be exploited, especially those who live near the barricades, as well as the students who study in Cyprus by granting work in various positions.
"It would be worrying for us after so many attempts to convince tourists to travel to Cyprus, to suffer in terms of services," he concluded.
