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Hoteliers Challenge British Tabloid Reports On Reduced Bookings in Cyprus

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 25, 2024

Recent claims by the British tabloid Daily Express about a significant drop in tourist bookings in Cyprus have been refuted by local hoteliers. The tabloid’s report, which describes a “crisis” potentially costing the sector £30 million, has been labelled as outdated by Philokypros Roussounides, Director General of the Cyprus Hotels Association (CHA). According to Roussounides, the article references data from several months ago and does not reflect current realities, such as the addition of new flights and stable tourist arrivals matching last year’s levels.

Chrysemili Psilogeni, General Manager of the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA), acknowledged a decline in bookings earlier this year but noted that airport arrivals have recently increased. However, she pointed out that arrivals do not necessarily equate to hotel bookings, as tourists often opt for short-term rentals or stay in the island’s Turkish-occupied areas.

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Resilience and Future Prospects

Roussounides emphasised the resilience of the tourism sector amid ongoing challenges, including geopolitical instability. He underscored the importance of continuing to invest in and strengthen the sector to maintain and improve current levels of tourist arrivals.

Meanwhile, Psilogeni highlighted the need to attract higher-quality tourism and extend the tourist season to enhance the sector’s sustainability. This approach aims to counterbalance any potential fluctuations in tourist numbers and expenditure due to external economic pressures.

Government and Industry Response

The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, had previously expressed optimism that tourism targets would be met based on data from the first four months of the year. His comments align with the industry’s cautious optimism, reflecting a broader confidence in Cyprus’s ability to weather short-term setbacks and continue its trajectory of tourism growth.

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Industry Uproar Over Reduction in Electric Vehicle Subsidies

by News Editor

April 26, 2025

The recent move by the government to curtail subsidies for electric vehicles has stirred significant discontent among car importers in Cyprus. The Department of Road Transport (DRT) has slashed available grants under the Electric Vehicle Promotion Scheme as of April 23, leading to a rapid depletion of the subsidy pool and leaving many potential applicants disappointed.

Importers’ Concerns

According to the Cyprus Motor Vehicle Importers Association (CMVIA), the lack of transparency and failure to engage stakeholders prior to the decision have eroded trust in the government’s commitments. Importers now find themselves facing a precarious situation, with substantial stocks of electric vehicles and mounting promotional expenditures.

Public Interest and EU Compliance

Although the scheme aimed to support the transition to zero-emission transport until 2025, the DRT states that the curtailing of funds was necessary to comply with European funding terms, which warned against delays in vehicle deliveries. This decision has fueled market uncertainty despite the application portal experiencing dynamic changes.

Industry’s Ongoing Demand

The CMVIA refutes any claims suggesting waning interest in electric vehicles, underscoring the rapid exhaustion of available grants as proof of substantial demand. They highlight the importance of meeting Cyprus’s green transition targets, including putting 80,000 electric vehicles on roads by 2030.

While the total budget for subsidies saw an increase to €36.5 million in 2023, thanks to additional funding, ongoing difficulties in timely vehicle distribution have led to premature closures of applications. In response, CMVIA has called for urgent dialogue with the Minister of Transport to reassess the decision, fearing that it could endanger the future of e-mobility in Cyprus.