Unlike some islands in the Mediterranean Cyprus doesn’t rely almost exclusively on tourism to fuel its economy. Luckily with the downturn in the world economy only about 11 percent of the country’s revenue comes from tourism.

 

Year-to-Year Comparison

 

January and February saw a combined 11.1 percent drop in the number of people taking holidays in Cyprus, and it hasn’t been getting better since then. The first half of 2009 saw a fall in British visitors of about 20 to 30 percent who ecided that the lure of the weather in Cyprus wasn’t enough.

 

Monetary Issues

 

Some say monetary exchange rates are the principle cause of the reduction of visitors from Britain. The current exchange rate from euro to sterling is far lower than it was in 2008.

 

Many tourists look for low rates and great deals on travel packages. More than 50 percent of European holidaymakers choose to spend their vacation time in more traditional spots. Either way, money-aware travelers are looking for the best value for their money.

 

Only about 25 percent of European vacationers prefer to visit less-known places. They prefer vacation destinations that are more quiet and remote. Some are in search of quiet, outdoor activities while others simply like to visit alternative locations from year to year.

 

A lot of people chose to stay home this summer. Three percent of those polled said they could not vacation this year without going in debt. The world-wide economic issues have caused many well-known holiday destinations to become less crowded during the 2009 season. Most residents of Greece for example chose to vacation within the country this year instead of travelling abroad.

 

Most Popular Holiday Destinations

 

Some of the most popular destinations are the Balearic Islands, Rome, London and Paris. The United States, Turkey and Croatia are also popular destinations for Europeans this year.

 

The Balearic Islands are comprised of a group of 5 islands in the Mediterranean Sea, the main ones being Majorca, Menorca and Ibiza. The primary languages spoken are Spanish and Catalan but many natives have learned English to accommodate English-speaking visitors. Ibiza is well known as both a party and family destination. Crystal blue waters and sandy beaches await visitors to the islands.

 

Though fewer people are visiting Cyprus this year, next year may prove to be a different story. The economy is starting a slow climb upward and people are learning to save for things they enjoy. Tourism in 2010 will likely see tourists and international travellers going back to their favourite destinations, including Cyprus of course.

 

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Tags: Cyprus, holidays, travel, vacations

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 1st, 2009 at 5:23 pm and is filed under Cyprus, holidays, vacations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.