ROC Tourist Numbers Nosedive (Especially the British)

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
14/04/2009 14:22

Tuesday, April 14, 2009



Tourism down 16.4 per cent in March)



THE NUMBER of tourists to Cyprus dropped 16.4 per cent year-on-year in March, with a 26.9 per cent nosedive in British arrivals.



Data yesterday showed 90,434 tourists visited the eastern Mediterranean island last month compared to 108,164 in March 2008. Arrivals had fallen to 56,626 in February. Tourism accounts for about 10.9 per cent of Cypriot gross domestic product.



The statistics revealed that British tourists -- Cyprus's main feeder market, totalled 41,083 last month compared to 56,217 in March 2008. Britons normally account for just over half of Cyprus's total tourism intake each year. Tourism arrivals from Germany rose 25.1 per cent.



For the period January-March 2009 tourism arrivals totalled 194,127 compared to 228,962 in the corresponding period of 2008, recording a 15.2 per cent decrease.





Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2009

rodders


Joined: 29/03/2009
Posts: 11

Message Posted:
14/04/2009 14:31

Hello, Aussie that just shows you the state of the british economy.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
14/04/2009 14:41

it is always quoted that us brits are a nation of home owners, so i guess the mortgage rates and credit crunch are taking their toll.

i think all the brits have probably gone to turkey, as last year i read it had become the most popular brit destination overtaking spain.

cronos


Joined: 26/10/2008
Posts: 2093

Message Posted:
14/04/2009 14:56

Firestarter.....you may be right.



In the minds of most Brit holidaymakers , Cyprus is Limassol , Paphos , Aya Napa , Protaras etc etc.I honestly think that most Brits think Cyprus is one of the Greek Islands such as Rhodes and Crete !



If they want a taste of Turkish people and culture ,they will go to mainland turkey for it,and not to North Cyprus.



I don't want this place to become like the Spanish Costas and be over-run with Brits on a cheap package holiday,however I would like to see some steady increase in tourist numbers to hopefully generate wealth to improve facilities and infrastructure.