Stability as a sign of mastery?

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   This year Cyprus went through the period of stabilization, as follows from the words of operators interviewed by BANKO Information Service reporter. Last year tourists quite often changed their vacation plans when confronted with the necessity of visas registration. It appears that by 2005 they have already got used to this. However, Cyprus consulate, according to the experts’ opinion, worked very efficiently, issuing visas in one day. The experts disagreed on the subject of heightened interest to Cyprus. ‘The growth of sales volume for Cyprus in our company was about 60%,’ said the head of ‘Biblio-Globus’ tour operator, Mr. Alexander Tugolukov. Other players on the market were less optimistic, and admitted that their figures were lower than that. The depth of sales was 2 to 4 weeks.
   Speaking about resort preferences, operators noted that Limassol, Aya Napa, and Larnaca aroused the most interest. All of the experts mentioned that more and more of the Cyprus hotels convert to ‘all inclusive’ system. This lead to the clients viewing traditionally high prices for packets to this country (compared to Turkey and Egypt) as better grounded. ‘Lots of people consider rest in Cyprus quite expensive,’ says Mr. Tugolukov. ’But now that this system appeared, people know what to expect’. At the same time players on the market paid attention to evident growth of demand for 4* and 5* hotels. By their estimate, in the ending season 20% of tourists preferred to stay at 5* hotels, 30% at 4* hotels, 30% at 3* hotels, the rest at 2* hotels or suites. 11-day tours were bought most readily.
   BANKO experts agreed that during the season demand and supply balance in transportation was not disrupted. ‘There wasn’t any considerable excess of transportation,’ says Mr. Revaz Mgeladze, deputy head of ‘Zeus Travel’. ’And in August we could have used some more flights – there was a certain lack of it.’