TOURISM UNDER PRESSURE - HOTEL CANCELLATIONS CONTINUE - Filenews 13/4
Hotel occupancy rates moved between 25% and 45% during the Easter period, as reported by Christos Angelides, General Manager of PASYXE, noting that the situation with cancellations and reduced bookings remains largely the same.
Mr. Angelidis told KYPE that the traffic in hotels during the Easter period was limited, at least as far as the local market is concerned. "The weighted average occupancy rate ranged between 25-45%," he said, pointing out, however, that Easter is not a traditional time for Cypriots in hotels. "They prefer trips abroad or family gatherings," he said, noting that these rates are a little lower than normal for the period.
Besides, he noted that most hotels have already opened for the new season, while by April 20 everything is expected to open.
Asked about the level of bookings for the summer, Mr. Angelidis noted that with the pace at which they are moving, "we are in the same picture as we were 5 weeks ago. Some cancellations continue and the rate of bookings is not such as to turn the picture upside down for the better."
"We hope that they will increase to the extent that they reverse the level of cancellations," he said.
He noted that there has been a slight improvement in the level of cancellations, "but there is not much mobility in the level of bookings, as we would expect, after six weeks (of war)".
"The picture is slightly different, but without many signs of recovery," he said.
"Unfortunately, the events continue. Even though we are not in the spotlight because we entered the frame, we continue to stay. We didn't manage to shake it off," he said.
For their part, he noted that hotels continue their campaigns on social networks, with their advertisers, and interpersonal contacts continue with many trips of hotel sales managers abroad.
"Our view is that the campaign of Cyprus as a safe, welcoming destination with all the good things it has and has offered over the years, must continue and intensify throughout the year, in order to get rid of what happened overnight," he underlined.
CNA
