Limassol hotels reached 90% occupancy during the tourist season, but stakeholders in the sector say there are prospects for better performance all year round in the coming years. This year's tourist season was better than the previous one, although the desired levels are higher, said the president of the Limassol Tourism Development Company (ETAL), Tony Antoniou, who is confident that Limassol will continue to be the number one, tourist destination of Cyprus, "in quality"!
Mr. Antoniou pointed out that Limassol has highly developed infrastructure to attract high income tourists and is the only tourist city where hotels, unless they are renovated, operate all year round. He pointed out that in attracting tourists from new and existing markets, ETAL's activities have contributed greatly with the promotion trips it makes to the region (e.g. to Israel from where we have a large turnout), seminars to travel agents (including 100 in total recently in Germany) and the hosting of several Bloggers, in order to promote the experiences that the visitor can have in Limassol.
The ETAL president expressed the certainty that next year, with the operation of the Casino Resort, but also with the 300.000 tourists coming by cruise ships (a market that is growing rapidly), traffic will increase further. He pointed out that with the completion of the Casino, the city now has an enviable conference center that can host up to 2,000 delegates, as well as events of great importance.
"The enrichment of our tourism product is very large and differentiates Limassol from other destinations in Cyprus and abroad", stressed Tony Antoniou, adding to the equation the multitude of actions and projects of ETAL in the countryside of Limassol, which add to its tourist product. Hoteliers Association (PASYXE) Limassol President Christos Tsanos told us that occupancy rates averaged between 85 and 90% in June, July and August, as well as September. He added that pre-pandemic it was 5% lower, but from 2021 onwards traffic was better than expected.
According to Christos Tsanos, even better years are coming, given, among other things, that PASYXE has initiated procedures with the Deputy Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Labor, to subsidize the operation and employment of hotels during the winter months, and not their closure. He pointed out that Limassol also receives visitors who enjoy its remarkable services. "Our city is gaining ground in conference tourism, wellness tourism and general sector tourism and this is also the result of the hard work that is being done", stressed Mr. Tsanos.
The Limassol Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises (ACTE) Representative to ETAL (general manager of Ajax Hotel) Marina Nicolaou told us that this year's season was the best after the coronavirus. He added that occupancy rates hovered over 80% and reached pre-pandemic levels. Nicolaou estimated that the winter season will also go well, given that conferences and festivals are constantly taking place in Limassol. As well as that the conference center in the Casino will attract even bigger conferences. He pointed out that many of the casino enthusiasts also choose other hotels in the city for accommodation.
