Although tourism in Paphos is not yet significantly affected by the ongoing conflict in Israel, there is widespread concern among tourism stakeholders about the potential impact in 2024 from the continued conflict in the Middle East, especially as the tourism industry in the province has surged again following the pandemic.
Speaking to Phileleftheros, Angelos Onisiforou, the president of the Paphos Leisure Centers Owners Association, emphasized that Israelis who had planned holidays or intended to hold their weddings in Cyprus this summer, assuming that the military operations that began at the end of 2023 would have ended by then, are now cancelling due to the situation in their country.
Onisiforou stated that leisure centres catering to domestic clients have not noticed a decrease in their business volume; however, those dealing exclusively with international tourism are already experiencing a noticeable decline.
Such businesses, he said, include those along the coastal front of Kato Paphos or the Coral Bay area, as well as those in Polis Chrysochous.
Similar concerns are expressed by the hotel sector, as Evelin Cleanthous Komodromou, the vice president of Paphos Hoteliers Association (PASYXE), told Phileleftheros that Israel now represents the second most important tourist market for Cyprus.
“We hope the entire situation comes to a favourable and swift conclusion,” she stressed, noting that beyond tourism and economic considerations, the invasion in Israel constitutes a human tragedy.
She described the situation as highly fluid, remarking that reservations are being lost and there is an atmosphere of uncertainty due to the ongoing military developments in the neighboring country.tourism impact. tourism impact, conflict in Middle East, hotel sector
