German tour operators are hoping for another good year for Cyprus bookings despite poor flight connections but regional turbulence is clouding the outlook.
The Mediterranean island performed well on the German market last year with the number of German visitors up by about 30% to 112,000. In total, the number of international arrivals increased by 12.5% to 2.7 million, including good growth from the vital British market.
This year, however, it is still unclear whether Cyprus will benefit from the weakness of nearby destinations, especially Turkey, or whether demand will suffer from conflicts in the region.
German bookings for Cyprus in the first few months of this year have been mixed. Thomas Cook, for example, has lower bookings than last year while specialist Attika Reisen hopes for a slight increase this year. Studiosus manager Thomas Graune said he was surprised by the weak demand after a good season in 2015.
German tour operators are keen to see more marketing to keep Cyprus in the minds of consumers as a potential destination. Indeed, Ekavi Charalamidou, head of the tourist office in Germany, is planning various marketing activities with tour operators and airlines as well as activities directly focusing on consumers.
Better flight connections
Another clear demand of tour operators is for better flight connections, especially after the insolvency of Cyprus Airways last year. “There is definitely room for improvement in the flight situation for Cyprus,” commented Neckermann Reisen product manager Daniela K?hler. TUI’s head of product management for Greece, Cyprus and North Africa, Florian Fleischer, referred to “an unsatisfactory situation” and “inflexible flight arrangements” which resulted in low demand. Gebeco managing director Ury Steinweg pointed out the low number of flights at weekends.
However, charter airline Germania has doubled its flights to ten weekly services from six German airports this summer. “The routes are developing well and demand is meeting our expectations,” the carrier stated. Lufthansa flies up to nine times a week to Larnaca but there are only a handful of weekly flights by other carriers, including Germanwings, Air Berlin, TUIfly and Easyjet, while Condor does not fly to the destination.
Despite relatively low air capacity, tour operators have expanded their programmes and exclusive hotel offers for the island this year. TUI will open the first Sensimar adults only hotel on Cyprus in Paphos this month and offers the Hotel Atlantica Aeneas as a Family Life concept hotel. Thomas Cook/Neckermann Reisen offer the Sentido Sandy Beach and several other new hotels while DER Touristik has extended its Cooee concept to the St George Golf & Spa Beach Resort.
German tour operators also praise the island’s range of premium and up-market hotels. Cyprus has “very good hotels, very good infrastructure and very good value for money,” declared Jan Frankenburg, DER Touristik’s head of product and hotel procurement. According to the tourist office, Cyprus has 25 luxury hotels, such as the Anassa in Neo Chorio. “The Anassa is one of the top addresses in Europe and invests year after year in improving its products,” commented Thomas Cook product manager Maic Haverstreng.
This product portfolio makes Cyprus attractive for quality-conscious families, couples and singles, according to tour operators. FTI, which has also expanded its programme, sees potential for the island to develop as a high-end destination with niche products, for example for active holidaymakers. Cyprus is on the path to becoming ‘a lifestyle island’ thanks to investments in hotels and infrastructure, according to Brigitte Kasseroler, who is responsible for Greece and Cyprus.
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