Paphos hotels anticipate occupancy rates exceeding 90 percent during the upcoming Kataklysmos holiday weekend, driven by strong demand from Cypriot visitors. Evripides Loizides, president of the Paphos Hoteliers Association, highlighted that most hotels are already operating at high capacity for the three-day break, reaffirming Paphos’ status as a popular short-break destination.

Despite this surge, Loizides cautioned that the holiday boost is too brief to counterbalance the overall decline in hotel occupancy this season. May recorded a significant drop of 20 to 25 percent compared to last year, with April falling by approximately 27 percent. The shift toward short-term rentals like Airbnb, absorbing up to a third of the market, as well as shifting tourist flows, are impacting hotel bookings.

Looking forward, the sector remains concerned not only about financial performance but also the challenge of retaining staff amid ongoing difficulties. Additionally, key tour operators such as Jet2 and TUI have reported substantial decreases in arrivals, and while markets like Israel continue to underperform, Poland remains an exception with positive momentum this season.