[Reuters]
Cyprus’ deputy minister of tourism, Costas Koumis, has admitted that the situation regarding tourism “is not easy” and will require a good deal of commitment, including weekly assessments and specific actions from the entire sector.
“If these are implemented, we can be cautiously optimistic,” he said, speaking to journalists in London after a string of meetings with Cyprus’ strategic partners.
These meetings, he noted, are part of a series of contacts he has been carrying out recently in key markets, aimed at evaluating the course of this year’s season and activating actions that will help bolster its performance.
Koumis admitted that the crisis in the Middle East has affected both Cyprus and other destinations in the region. However, he stressed that current indications, especially from the British market, suggest that losses for Cyprus will be smaller than initially forecast. He made particular reference to May, noting that despite negative reports in recent weeks, the month has not been “lost” in tourism terms.
Noting that last year’s results constituted a historic record, he said that all signs point to Cyprus maintaining a strong presence in the market.