Cyprus tourism weathering the storm – so far

As the war between Hezbollah, Hamas and Israel rages on, Cyprus is playing an important role for evacuees from Lebanon. Positioned strategically close to the conflict zone, the island is assisting in the humanitarian efforts to repatriate civilians under the Estia national plan.

Hotels across the country, particularly near Larnaca, are adapting to the new influx, but for now, the industry remains largely unaffected.

According to the general director of the Cyprus Hotel Association (Pasyxe) Philokypros Roussounides, the current situation remains manageable.

“The numbers at the moment reflect the same period last year, which is obviously a positive sign,” Roussounides told the Sunday Mail.

Despite the ongoing conflict in the region, hotel bookings have not shown a significant downturn. “From the data we have, it looks like Cyprus hasn’t really been affected by the current geopolitical situation in terms of arrivals.”

However, Roussounides did express caution regarding the future, pointing out that the broader Mediterranean area could experience impacts next year due to the conflict.

“What the region is going through affects primarily the scheduling and the programming of next year,” he said, adding that it is too early to assess long-term consequences.

For now, Roussounides suggests a wait-and-see approach, urging the industry not to overreact to potential negative outcomes.

“Let’s not overestimate negative situations or project difficult times,” he said. The hotel industry in Cyprus has shown resilience, and he remains hopeful there will be stabilisation before it severely affects the sector.

Currently, some hotels are accommodating evacuees from Lebanon. While Roussounides estimated that a few hundred people have arrived and found temporary lodging, he reiterated that the numbers remain within manageable levels.

“It all hinges on how the situation will develop in the next days,” he said.

“Most importantly, let’s all hope that the ongoing tensions and conflicts will defuse as soon as possible from a humanitarian point of view, before concerning ourselves with business.

“We are monitoring events closely, but we are trying not to worry too much about numbers and send the wrong message to our partners abroad and in Cyprus,” Roussounides said.

On her part, Chrisemily Psilogeni, the general director of the Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises (Stek), also highlighted the impact of the influx on hotels near Larnaca airport.

“At the moment, the hotels near Larnaca airport are full,” she said, which is an indication of the high number of evacuees from Lebanon currently in Cyprus.

Psilogeni added that the occupancy rate in hotels across Cyprus remains steady, standing at around 70 per cent, comparable to last year. However, a key difference this year is the higher number of last-minute bookings, suggesting an increase in unplanned trips due to the conflict.

“Last-minute bookings are both long and short stays,” Psilogeni explained, which indicates evacuees are not only staying for a short period before moving on but some are opting for longer stays. Despite the unexpected demand, the industry appears to be coping well with the surge in bookings.

For long-term visitors like Sylvia Jones from Northampton, who has been vacationing in Ayia Napa regularly for over a decade, the situation has not significantly altered her experience.

“I was in doubt whether the current situation in the area, with the conflict and all, posed a risk this time,” she told the Sunday Mail.

“I still decided to come, and I have to say that nothing seems out of the ordinary.”

Jones also said that her usual hotel was at normal capacity for this time of year, with no apparent disruption.

“The hotel I always stay at is half full, which is normal for this time of the year. Then again, most evacuees might be staying close to the airport or in Larnaca.

“I feel for what is happening right now, it’s tragic and I don’t see how it can end. And I think Cyprus might just be the only safe place in the region,” Jones said.

While hotels are accommodating evacuees, the overall tourism picture remains stable. According to the deputy tourism ministry, there have been no significant cancellations specifically due to the ongoing conflict.

Hotels and travel operators have received inquiries from concerned guests, but this has not translated into a downturn in bookings. British tourists, in particular, are not entitled to refunds unless the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) advises against travel to Cyprus, although some tour operators are offering flexibility for those wishing to reschedule.

Ports in Larnaca, Limassol and Ayia Napa are also playing a role in the evacuation efforts. Foreign nationals, mainly Europeans, are arriving by sea from Lebanon and then arranging flights to their home countries.

Since the start of the evacuations on September 27, more than 1,550 people have passed through Cyprus, according to foreign ministry spokesperson Theodoros Gotsis.

While many evacuees stay in state-provided facilities under the Estia plan, some opt to find accommodation in hotels, contributing to the island’s current hotel occupancy levels.

Cyprus has also maintained a neutral stance in the conflict, with President Nikos Christodoulides emphasising that the country’s involvement is purely humanitarian.

“Its only involvement is on humanitarian grounds, to offer a safe destination for anyone in Lebanon wishing to be evacuated,” Christodoulides said.

As Cyprus continues to function as a vital platform for assisted departures from Lebanon, the hotel industry is proving to be resilient, managing both the regular influx of tourists and the evacuees seeking temporary shelter.

How the ongoing conflict will affect the sector in the long term remains uncertain, but for now, Cyprus’ tourism industry appears to be weathering the storm.