The UK government’s decision to close down the country for four weeks as part of its fight against the spread of coronavirus has shocked Cypriot hoteliers. They say it could have an extremely negative impact on the island’s autumn and winter tourist season.

Great Britain is the largest supplier of tourists to Cyprus, its share accounts for a third of annual arrivals: in 2019, the flow of tourists from there was almost four million people. Meanwhile, the prospect of introducing new “coronavirus” restrictions by the British authorities has already led to the abolition of many flights in the Cypriot direction. As noted by the chairman of the Association of Hotels in Cyprus (CHA) in Paphos, Thanos Michaelides, lockdown puts hoteliers in front of additional difficulties – there are already a series of cancellations and freezing of bookings for next year. Michaelidis said that 2021 is also expected to be difficult, because for the first four months now no orders.

A number of Cypriot hotels have already decided to close for the winter – literally today the list has been updated with Parklane Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in Limassol.