Boost for Paphos from domestic tourism

THE occupancy of Paphos hotels reached 95 per cent in recent days, boosted by Cypriots and Russian tourists, a tourism official said yesterday.

“The arrival of Russian tourists continues and is quite satisfactory,” said the chairman of the district’s hoteliers’ committee, Themis Philipides. 

Arrivals from Russia jumped 40.7 per cent year-on-year in July, compensating for the 9.1 per cent reduction in traffic from the UK – the island’s main market.

But Paphos apparently benefited from locals’ decision not to travel abroad this year because of the downturn.

“A lot of Cypriots who used to holiday abroad have limited their excursions, due to the economic crisis, opting to come to our town,” Philipides said. “I can say that domestic tourism is at a peak. It is the first year we have so many people from other districts.”

Philipides said hotels have not raised their prices, despite the increase in overheads.

The rise in tourist arrivals has also caused a spike in trips to the city’s emergency room.

According to the Paphos hospital director, the week ending last Wednesday saw 1,692 people receiving treatment for various reasons including accidents, gastroenteritis and heart attacks.

“The large number of local and foreign visitors to Paphos for the summer holidays also resulted in an increase of emergency room incidents,” Spyros Georgiou said.

The highest turnout was recorded last Sunday, with 254 people seeking some sort of treatment.