Tourist traffic in the Paphos district is expected to remain high in August, with hotel occupancy rates estimated to range between 85% and 90%, according to the President of the Paphos Hoteliers Association, Evripides Loizidis.
The situation is expected to be particularly busy during the Assumption holiday, a period during which Paphos is at the center of tourist activity, with increased visitor arrivals and significant demand for accommodations.
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The high occupancy rates confirm that August remains one of the most important months of the tourist season for the district, despite the pressures being felt across the market as a whole, he noted.
Mr. Loizidis appears cautiously optimistic about the trend for August, noting, however, that a significant portion of reservations are made at the last minute.
This trend, he explains, is largely linked to the financial pressures faced by consumers, who are delaying decisions about their vacations and seeking the best possible price.
The improvement seen in August follows a July which, despite positive tourist traffic, ended with a decrease in occupancy rates of approximately 10% compared to the same month in 2025.
This represents a clear improvement compared to previous months. In May and June, the decline had reached about 15%, a fact that had caused serious concern in the hotel industry.
The July figures, according to the President of the Paphos Hoteliers Association, shows that the tourism market has begun to recover gradually, though it has not yet returned to last year’s levels.
There was particularly high activity during the Assumption holiday period, with the Paphos district attracting a large number of visitors. The increased demand for hotels, tourist accommodations, and dining establishments creates one of the most intense “surge” periods of the summer season.
This period is considered crucial for hotel businesses, as the increased demand provides a much-needed respite in a year during which the industry is facing reduced occupancy rates over several months and significant pressure on prices.
However, there is greater concern about the rest of the tourist season. For September, occupancy rates in the Paphos district so far range from about 75% to 80%, marking a decline compared to last year.
Mr. Loizidis estimates that the decline amounts to about 15%, and so far there are no substantial signs of a significant turnaround.
Even more challenging, according to him, conditions in October are expected to be even more challenging, a fact that is causing concern among tourism professionals, as extending the tourist season has long been a goal for Cyprus.
Despite the decline in occupancy rates, the President of the Paphos Hoteliers Association points out that the biggest blow to hotel businesses is not solely due to the number of visitors.
Of particular concern is the significant drop in prices, which, according to Mr. Loizidis, have fallen by more than 20%.
This trend has a direct impact on hotel revenue and, by extension, on the viability of these businesses. Thus, even when occupancy rates remain at relatively high levels, the lower average room rate significantly reduces total revenue.
Geopolitical instability is among the factors affecting this year’s tourist season.
As Mr. Loizidis noted, part of the market appears to have been lost due to the war, as many potential visitors chose other destinations for their vacations.
At the same time, the rising cost of living and broader economic pressures have changed travelers’ behavior.
Many consumers are delaying their vacation planning and making reservations very close to their departure date, while also seeking more affordable options.
The trend toward last-minute bookings therefore makes it more difficult to reliably forecast tourist traffic for the coming months.
Against this backdrop, the performance of the Israeli tourism market is particularly positive, with a significant increase in visitors to Paphos.
According to Mr. Loizidis, the increased presence of Israeli tourists is also bolstered by the large number of flight connections between the two countries, which facilitate access to Paphos.
If this trend continues through the end of the tourist season, Israel is projected to become Paphos’s second-largest tourist market, after the UK.
This development is considered particularly important for the destination, as it strengthens the diversification of the markets on which Paphos tourism depends.
This year’s tourist season in Paphos has presented a mixed picture so far. As the president of the Paphos Hoteliers Association notes, on the one hand, August—and especially the Assumption holiday period—is generating strong tourist traffic, with occupancy rates reaching 85%–90%.
On the other hand, the losses recorded in previous months, the drop in prices of more than 20%, the decline in demand in certain markets, and uncertainty regarding September and October are creating an environment of heightened challenges for the hotel industry.
The coming period is considered critical for the course of the season. The trend in last-minute bookings, the performance of international markets, and, above all, the ability to sustain demand after August will largely determine the final outcome of this year’s tourist season for Paphos, Mr. Loizidis concluded.
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Source: CNA
