Hospitality venues across Cyprus recorded full occupancy over the New Year period, while hotels reached around 60 per cent, according to industrial bodies. Neophytos Thrasyvoulou, president of the hospitality venues association (Pasika), noted that while Christmas saw strong occupancy, it could not quite match the demand observed during the New Year. He attributed this difference to Christmas being more family-focused and often hindered by adverse weather conditions affecting travel.
New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day proved particularly popular, with all cities experiencing a surge in demand. Thrasyvoulou highlighted that Nicosia led the way in performance, benefitting from larger venues and more elaborate events, followed closely by Limassol. Coastal businesses that remained open also enjoyed full bookings.
The days leading up to New Year’s Eve witnessed a significant increase in demand, with many venues reaching their full capacity. On New Year’s Day itself, hospitality venues reported being completely booked. Occupancy figures during the festive period varied, with Christmas Eve seeing between 80 to 85 per cent occupancy. This rose to 95 to 100 per cent on December 26, and reached full capacity on January 1.
Thrasyvoulou remarked that many Cypriots opted to stay on the island for the holidays this year, a change from previous trends. The activity at Christmas villages also reflected this shift, indicating successful efforts to enhance seasonal offerings.
In terms of hotel occupancy, Christos Angelides, general manager of the hoteliers’ association (Pasyxe), confirmed that figures over Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and the following days reached up to 60 per cent. Some hotels, particularly those in seaside resorts, were close to full capacity. Angelides explained that while Christmas typically generates less movement from the domestic market, New Year’s Eve attracted stronger demand.
This year saw an increase in international arrivals, thanks to a higher number of flights from markets such as Poland, Germany, Israel, and the United Kingdom. The influx of international visitors contributed to improved activity levels across the sector.
Angelides noted that international bookings often spanned longer durations, frequently covering both Christmas and New Year. These extended stays, which averaged seven to eight days, provided significant benefits to the wider touristic economy, extending beyond hotels.
As Cyprus prepares to assume the EU council presidency, Angelides believes it is premature to evaluate the potential impact on tourism. However, he expressed optimism about increased travel in the coming months. He pointed out that improved performance had already been observed in October, November, and December, and extending tourism activity into additional months could have a substantial long-term economic impact.
