Hotels in Cyprus in April are expected to be filled to half capacity

Hotel occupancy rates in the Republic of Cyprus in April are expected to range from 50 to 55 percent. Currently, up to 90 percent of accommodation facilities on the island are operational.

According to the president of the Hoteliers Association (Pasyxe), Thanos Michaelides, there is a slight decrease in hotel and apartment occupancy compared to the same period last year.

The association head noted that since the beginning of the year, the occupancy rate has gradually declined, with the most significant difference observed in April. This is due to Easter falling in March this year, while Orthodox Easter will be much later, in May.

Most bookings come from the UK, France, Germany, and Poland. The number of arrivals from Israel, one of Cyprus's largest markets, has decreased due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip. The current economic climate in the UK also slightly affects the number of hotel bookings in Cyprus. Another global problem for the hotel sector remains the shortage of staff.

"This year will end with lower occupancy rates than in 2023," the expert believes.

To improve the situation, the expert advised focusing on alternative types of visitors, particularly sports and gastronomic tourism.