Limassol shop owners report weaker Easter footfall

Limassol’s historic shopping centre saw weaker footfall over Easter, with traders blaming poor consumer sentiment, lower tourist arrivals linked to the war in the region, and unseasonably cold, rainy weather. 

Christis Demetriou, municipal councillor and representative of shop owners in Limassol’s historic commercial centre, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) that the decline was relatively small and largely in line with current conditions affecting the market.

He said “recent low temperatures and rainfall had kept people away from the city centre and also held back purchases of spring and summer goods,” although he voiced confidence that this would ease as the weather improves. 

Beyond the weather, Demetriou said market activity had also been weighed down by what he described as negative public sentiment over the cost of living, the war in a neighbouring country and tourist arrivals that fell short of expectations for the Easter period. 

However, he expressed optimism that conditions would improve, pointing to signs of de-escalation after the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran and hopes for an end to the conflict. 

“Our market is greatly affected by external factors, which I hope will soon be corrected and things will soon get better,” he said. 

He added that “last Sunday’s Easter event on Anexartisias Street, organised in cooperation with Limassol municipality, provided some financial relief for local businesses, although turnout was lower than expected because of the rain.” 

Despite the softer Easter trading period, Demetriou said shopkeepers in Limassol’s historic centre remain confident that better days lie ahead and stressed that “the current situation is fully explainable and not a cause for concern.”