Filenews 14 May 2023 - by Adamos Adamou
They are essentially foreign visitors who arrive on our island and statistically they are slow to appear, due to their short-lived stay. As a result, they are not recorded in tourist arrivals, but as daily visitors, and the data for them are annual.
For the time being, official data exist until 2021, while last year's data, which clearly show the upward trend of daily visitors arriving through ports, were published relatively recently by DP World Limassol.
Almost solemnly, we would say, as the company that manages the multipurpose terminal in the port of Limassol had every reason to be satisfied, since Cyprus seems to have entered for good on the cruise map with benefits for tourism as well, as a result of coordinated actions of the company, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and Shipping and others, including the Port Authority.
It may have been some circumstances that triggered and favoured the cruise in general and Limassol, which is evolving into a main "visit" station for many cruise ships, but the benefits are multiple. Especially for the hospitality sector, as, although day visitors, the thousands of foreigners who decide to get off cruise ships for a few hours do not cease to be tourists. And they do not cease to leave income and foreign exchange. Especially the Americans, according to tour guides, who are active in the area, some of whom are "closed" for guided tours of visitors until November.
Cruise companies have every excursion station available for sale and they do the same when they arrive in Limassol, with many of the travelers getting off, being transported by hired coaches to nearby and not only destinations for guided tours. There are excursions that include Lefkara and Agios Lazaros of Larnaka, old Nicosia, Petra tou Romiou, Kourion, Kolossi, Choirokoitia, Paphos and other monuments and archaeological sites, as well as restaurants or wineries. Some visitors simply prefer a walk in Limassol, but still leave income, thus helping the economy. In fact, the increase in these visitors had such dynamics that, as "F" is informed, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism wishes to involve the Statistical Service in the collection of data on revenue from daily visitors, through questionnaires at ports and based on the method of calculating total revenue from tourism.
What the numbers say
Those who live in Limassol or transit through it are very likely to see more often large cruise ships, some real behemoths, as they carry thousands of passengers, calling at port than in the past. And they are right, as according to DP World Limassol, the passenger terminal management company welcomed 165 cruise ships and approximately 200,000 passengers/daily visitors from these cruise ships last year. The company, which aims to make Limassol port a leading cruise port in the Eastern Mediterranean, says that on an annual basis, passenger numbers recorded a 2022% increase in cruise ships in 338.
In addition, we remind you that the port is now also a port of departure for major cruises of internationally renowned companies that have also established offices in Cyprus, such as Royal Caribbean.
In fact, the company hopes for positive results again this year. Specifically, sources from the managing company of Limassol port, DP World Limassol, say that according to the data so far, the port of Limassol will welcome more than 200 cruise ships and about 300,000 passengers this year. They add that October and November will record the highest number of arrivals, with 34 and 46 cruises respectively. It is also noted that in some cases the port is expected to welcome 2-3 cruises on the same day. Regarding the countries of origin of passengers, according to the same sources, visitors are expected mainly from Germany, Israel, the United States of America, the Nordic countries and the United Kingdom.
Other information indicates that visitors are often from Spain, China, Korea and other countries, with which Cyprus does not maintain a direct air connection, thus giving an opportunity for acquaintance with Cyprus and promotion of our country abroad.
Meanwhile, it is worth noting that the 300,000 visits expected by DP World Limassol is the highest number of daily visitors since 1980 with the best performance so far going back to 2010 with 271,000. In 2019, the last normal year for tourism, daily visitors from ports had risen to 112,268. At the same time, the company's estimates for 2024 are equally good, as it has already received a large number of bookings. Some sources, however, say that this year's estimates may eventually surpass the 300,000 passengers that are expected to eventually be more.
The favourable circumstances and the incentives offered
The dynamics developed by the cruise sector are almost certain to continue for a number of reasons, with our country establishing itself as a starting point or an important stop for cruise ships.
As competent sources explained to us, this is due to a number of reasons, including that Cyprus was one of the first countries to open its ports after the pandemic, but also due to the smooth situation in relation to the past prevailing in the Eastern Mediterranean region, which has resulted in cruises in general being enhanced.
This is also due to various restrictions set by other popular stations and ports, such as Venice. In this context, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism has implemented a specific subsidy scheme for hosting cruise ships in Cyprus (DE MINIMIS).
Aiming, inter alia, at the further development of cruise tourism in Cyprus, the increase of Cyprus' inclusion in cruise company programs (calls) in Cyprus, the improvement of Cyprus' image towards cruise tourists, the encouragement of the increase in the number of passengers disembarking from cruise ships that have as a stop/port of call Cyprus and the increase of winter tourism (November-April).
According to information, however, the plan did not manage to attract much interest and in this context and in cooperation with other bodies efforts are being made for changes in order to make it more attractive for contributing to the goals set.
