Passenger traffic from Cyprus to Greece, the top holiday destination for Cypriots, fell by up to 80 per cent during certain periods in 2020, according to the Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) director Athena Spakouri, who said that, due to the situation created by the pandemic, it was still unclear when it would return to normal levels.
Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency, Spakouri said coronavirus had a very strong impact on the shared tourism economy of the two countries.
“According to data collected from the ‘Cyprus Flight Pass’ platform, we estimated that in July and August 65 per cent less people travelled from Cyprus to Greece compared with the same month last year. That figure rose to a staggering 80 per cent in September,” she said.
“Greece is always the most popular travel destination for Cypriots, more than the UK and the rest of Europe.
“But, due to the pandemic, people so far this year were more cautious as far as travelling is concerned, which resulted in cancelled hotel bookings and flights at a huge economic loss for Greece.”
Spakouri added that the flow of tourists from Cyprus to Greece was unlikely to rise throughout the Christmas period.
“It is difficult to assess whether there will be an increase in traffic between Greece and Cyprus during the holidays. We are still dealing with the pandemic and we might be forced to do so for the upcoming months as well. People are still afraid to travel and we cannot make predictions for now.”
She also pointed out that only a total lifting of the measures would prompt a recovery and, since they cannot be lifted in the foreseeable future, the tourism industry in Greece needs to focus on consolidating the sense of safety and hygiene that might attract more visitors.
“We need to inspire confidence in the people choosing to travel to our country in this period.”
Finally, Spakouri said that the ferry link between the two countries was now more crucial than ever.
The link was suspended some 20 years ago prompting complaints about connectivity to the European mainland because of the dependence on air travel as well as higher travel costs.
Last September Cyprus’ deputy shipping minister Vassilis Demetriades said the launch of a ferry service from Cyprus to Greece in May was a realistic objective.
“I firmly believe the link will give potential visitors from Cyprus more options for travelling. Therefore, we need to make it work as soon as possible.”
