Disruption Hits Paphos

The current ash cloud problems could have a detrimental effect on tourism in Cyprus. According to Shawn Pogatchnik (Airlines, travelers gird for summer delays as volcano plume persists), Europe faces an uphill battle this summer, hurting not just weak but strong tourism markets.

Although the majority of the large plumes seem to have passed, the smaller plumes have caused problems across Eastern Europe, in Turkey over than 2,500 miles from the Eyjafjallajokul volcano.

Prior to this Ash Cloud, it had already been forecasted that like 2009, tourism will be down from the heights of 2007/8, some locals suggesting as much as a 15% decrease from last year.

Cyprus has seen its tourism rate decrease over the last few years, with reasons stemming from new road networks and building causing turmoil during the holiday period. This problem has only been worsened, as a lack of budget, the Greece economic downturn and unforeseen problems causing severe delays to the work. It is quite conceivable that tourists do not wish to see or hear building from 6.30am every morning on their relaxing holiday. With a holiday shutdown for 3 weeks in the summer, it is unlikely that the work will be finished before the majority of tourists would arrive. For this reason, many have turned their attentions to other Greek islands such as Crete, Corfu and Rhodes.

Cyprus, like many other Mediterranean countries has a wonderfully hot climate, affording fantastic views and suntans, as well as offering historic artefacts. This is why, like Pogatchnik suggested, Norwegians fly to the Mediterranean countries in the summer. Yet in recent years, due to the longevity of the flight, many nationalities have turned towards Spain and Portugal for their summer sun. The weakness of the Euro has further highlighted the fact that less money is being spent in Cyprus.

However, with this ash cloud, it would appear that this trend will not stop this summer, as people who have been involved or seen the chaos, are now taking precautions with their bookings. Although Thomas Cook claimed a 5% rise in their summer booking program, man Cypriots do not share this optimism. Many hotels are still not fully open for their summer season, and the ones that have been able to open larger sections of their hotels, still face a hard summer with empty rooms.

It is predicted that many will now visit France, Spain, Portugal and Germany this year, as in the travel chaos, it would be easier for people to return home. This would mean that in cases such as Lufthansa’s inability to “land in Munich so diverted planes to other German airports and bused passengers the rest of the way”, passengers would still arrive at their destination with a minimal amount of diversion.

Cyprus does not have this luxury, being an island, and this inability to return home without a costly adventure, appears to be stopping tourists from visiting.

Therefore, unless there is a radical changes in the ash cloud developments, Cyprus faces a long summer with reduced numbers funding the tourism trade once again.