John Jones from Queensferry, North Wales, is enjoying a relaxing holiday in Cyprus, by a shimmering pool. He and his family have ample choice of loungers at their resort, located a short distance from Ayia Napa. The management appears eager to cater to their limited clientele.
Jones stated his awareness of the drone incident at the British base, commenting, “We knew the drone had hit the British base here; it didn’t put us off at all.” The strike on RAF Akrotiri on March 1st placed Cyprus in the international spotlight and led to a wave of flight cancellations. Despite this, visitors like Jones seem content with their decision to travel.
He added, “People here are so friendly and generous,” as he prepared to accept another beer. “We’ve no worries, no problems.”
Shifting Travel Plans Amidst Regional Instability
On the beach, Alexandra and Jehiel, a couple from Switzerland, shared that the ongoing conflict altered their original travel arrangements. They had initially planned a trip to Thailand. Despite reservations from their parents, they opted for Cyprus, finding themselves with nearly deserted beaches.
“Our families were most stressed about this,” Alexandra remarked. “We arrived at the airport and there were some military guys but we spoke to the taxi driver and he told us we don’t need to be scared about the situation here, that nothing would happen.”
Their social plans, however, have been curtailed. Alexandra explained, “We have tried. We went to Ayia Napa to meet some people but there were like two bars open.” Jehiel concluded, “It’s been a good time to chill,” settling back onto his sun lounger.
Economic Impact and Perceptions of Safety
Cyprus’s tourism sector experienced a record-breaking year in the previous year, welcoming over 4.5 million visitors. A palpable concern exists that the current conflict could impede this growth, even though the drone attack targeted a military facility, RAF Akrotiri.
Chryso Tsokkou, director of Tsokkos Hotels and Resorts, the island’s largest hotel chain with 25 establishments, noted an initial surge in cancellations following the onset of conflict. However, she indicated a stabilization of the situation.
“It was not normal but it was expected,” Tsokkou explained. “The immediate arrivals had to make a decision as in the first 48 hours there were flight cancellations.” She emphasized that all hotels are currently operational. “It’s normal to reschedule; we had some people cancel for the immediate period and some cancellations for summer, but we have also had new bookings.”
While the primary tourist season typically commences in April or May, Philokypros Roussounides of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce expressed apprehension regarding the remainder of the year. “The island is not directly affected by the conflict,” he stated, “but in tourism, perception can sometimes travel faster than geography. Tourism planning is highly sensitive to perceptions of regional stability.”
The majority of businesses on the island continue to operate as usual, and most Cypriots have maintained their daily routines without significant disruption. Residents in villages near RAF Akrotiri have been permitted to return home following the Cypriot government’s lifting of the evacuation order. The area will remain under enhanced security with regular patrols. No decision has yet been made by British authorities regarding the relocation of families residing on the base.
Expatriate Perspective on Local Safety
Victora O’ffe, a British expatriate residing in Cyprus, shared her view that the perception of the island being caught in the crossfire is far from the reality. “If we didn’t have access to British television, we wouldn’t know it’s happening,” she remarked.
She expressed disappointment that family members in the UK have canceled visits. “We tell them to come, but tour operators are telling them to rebook to a different destination. There’s no reason not to come; it’s really safe,” Victoria insisted. “The weather’s fantastic, the food’s fantastic, why would you not come here?”