Nicosia: Last-minute bookings have bolstered hotel occupancy rates in Limassol, Paphos, and Famagusta this August, nearing or matching last year's numbers in certain areas. However, Larnaca continues to face lower occupancy rates despite signs of improvement, as reported by local hotel association representatives to CNA.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Christos Tsanos, President of the Limassol Hoteliers Association (PASYXE), indicated that earlier predictions for a recovery in bookings have been validated. Tsanos stated that the tourism season's defining characteristic has been last-minute bookings, with August's performance aligning with the levels projected for August 2025. Hotel occupancy in Limassol is approximately 90%, with domestic market bookings significantly contributing to demand from August 10-17.
In Paphos, the tourism sector is also experiencing robust activity throughout August, with hotel occupancy anticipated to range between 85% and 90%, as per Euripides Loizides, President of the Paphos Hoteliers Association. The August 15 holiday period is expected to see a surge in visitor arrivals and accommodation demand, reaffirming August's significance in the district's tourism season despite market challenges.
Loizides remains cautiously optimistic, highlighting the trend of last-minute bookings due to financial pressures on consumers seeking optimal prices. Meanwhile, Famagusta sees improvement after a challenging start, with hotel occupancy predicted to reach 80%-85% in August. Panayiotis Constantinou, President of the Famagusta Hoteliers Association and PASYXE Vice-President, noted strengthened tourism traffic in July and August, fueled by visitors from the UK, Israel, Poland, Scandinavia, and Central Europe.
Looking ahead, Constantinou views September positively, driven by last-minute bookings, although he acknowledges the need for further progress. Some larger Famagusta hotels may extend operations into November to mitigate early-season losses, with July and August revenues comparable to 2025 levels, albeit challenged by rising operational costs.
Conversely, Larnaca faces a less favorable situation, with hotel occupancy in July and August dropping by around 15% compared to last year, according to Marios Polyviou, President of the Larnaca Hoteliers Association. The district has been significantly impacted by Middle Eastern conflicts and geopolitical uncertainties, with July's occupancy ending 15% lower than in 2025. Despite a subdued start to August, occupancy is gradually improving, reaching about 75%.
Polyviou remains hopeful for a stronger end to August, citing last-minute bookings and recent agreements with British tour operators TUI UK and Jet2 as crucial for boosting Larnaca's tourism sector in future seasons.