hotel beds — Nearly 10,500 hotel beds are available in Paphos district for the winter season, according to official figures from the Paphos hoteliers association. President Evripides Loizides shared that while this figure is consistent with last year, hotel occupancy rates are exceeding expectations.
Loizides spoke to the Cyprus News Agency, noting, “December was satisfactory compared with the same period last year,” a sentiment that reinforces optimism for Paphos as a year-round tourist destination. The region is witnessing a positive trend, with 2025 anticipated to be particularly strong, potentially seeing a record number of arrivals, estimated at around 4.5 million.
Although not every visitor opts for hotel accommodation, Loizides remarked on the overall positive outlook for the hotel sector. He expressed hope that the current upward trend would persist, particularly as tourist demand increasingly relies on last-minute bookings. He stated, “Low-cost flights to Paphos play a significant role in sustaining occupancy levels.”
Recent statistics have shown a rise in interest from the Polish and German markets, which have emerged as important sources of visitors following the decline of Russian tourism. Additionally, Israel continues to demonstrate high arrival figures, albeit with shorter stays.
Looking ahead, Loizides maintains a cautiously optimistic perspective, especially concerning potential challenges within the UK market. He pointed out that while British tourists are likely to continue travelling, they may choose shorter holiday durations. “It is not only the number of arrivals that matters, but also the length of stay, which plays a significant role in revenues,” he explained.
One positive development for Paphos is the introduction of three weekly Lufthansa flights commencing April 1. Loizides described this as an exciting new opportunity for the area, while also acknowledging the ongoing success of other airlines, including Ryanair.
Despite the promising outlook, the tourism industry is grappling with challenges, including staff shortages that persist despite some improvements. Loizides also raised concerns about water availability due to reduced rainfall, alongside rising prices and increasing operating and wage costs. He stated, “When the numbers are doing well, everything else is doing well,” suggesting that a successful season could help alleviate these challenges.
Earlier this year, the Cyprus hoteliers association (Pasyxe) disclosed its annual report for 2024, which indicated that arrivals from January to December reached 4,040,200, marking a 5.1 per cent increase from the previous year. Revenue climbed to €3.209 billion, nearly 20 per cent higher than in 2019, the last pre-pandemic year.
The United Kingdom remains a crucial market, contributing approximately a third of total arrivals with 1,373,634 visitors. Israel follows with 425,606 arrivals, while Poland and Germany provided 337,139 and 228,355, respectively.
Pasyxe president Thanos Michaelides acknowledged the strides made in 2024, but highlighted ongoing structural challenges, including unlicensed short-term rentals, competition from the north, high operating costs, and persistent staff shortages.
