The number of tourists expected to visit Cyprus throughout 2016 will be close to 3 mln, according to estimates and provided nothing unforeseen happens, said Minister of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism Yiorgos Lakkotrypis on Tuesday.
Speaking after a session of the House Committee on Trade, where the Minister met with its new composition, following recent parliamentary elections in late May, Lakkotrypis said that they discussed the prospects in the tourist sector, possible challenges and the industry`s viability.
According to Lakkotrypis, occupancy has reached 100% in some hotels in June and noted that the tourist season had to be prolonged gradually, by a few weeks in March and November, in order to reach the desired target.
“We are satisfied with the results in 2016 but the great challenge is to sustain development,” he added. According to the Minister, the main goal is to regain the market share Cyprus has lost in the past 10-15 years and improve the quality of the services offered.
Lakkotrypis said there was an increase in arrivals from almost all markets, with the UK and Russia ranking first.
On excessive charges, the Minister said that “we cannot control prices in a free market.” He urged, however, the public to use the social media in order to “name and shame” establishments.
Concluding his remarks, the Minister offered his condolences to the families of the firefighters who lost their lives battling a huge forest fire, raging for the third consecutive day in Solea region, in Nicosia district.