Cyprus: Paphos Prepares For The Winter Tourism Season As The Island Strengthens Its Year-round Travel Strategy

Published on October 31, 2025

Paphos is anticipated to support astir 10,500 lodging units unfastened during nan upcoming wintertime season, which runs from December 2025 to March 2026. This magnitude is comparable to nan level observed during nan erstwhile wintertime play and accounts for astir 35% of nan region’s full licensed capacity. The Paphos Regional Tourism Board (Etap), nan section chapters of nan Cyprus Hoteliers Association, nan Association of Cyprus Tourist Enterprises, and individual edifice operators collaborated to behaviour a study that collected nan data.

The full spectrum of licensed lodging, including hotels, resorts, and smaller establishments, is covered by nan disposable capacity. Larger hotels and resorts typically only adjacent from December to February, erstwhile it’s nan coldest, and past reopen successful nan early spring. This strategy minimises expenses during nan slower months while maintaining basal operational continuity. For tourists, it besides intends that location is still a capable action of lodging options, pinch some coastal and agrarian properties welcoming wintertime visitors.

Air connectivity keeps nan destination accessible

Even during winter, formation schedules into Paphos International Airport stay steady. Approximately 125 incoming flights per week are expected from astir 40 airports crossed Europe and nan Middle East. These aerial connections are captious for sustaining tourism momentum done nan off-peak period. Data from nan Cyprus Statistical Service show that off-season recreation has been recovering successful caller years, pinch full wintertime arrivals accounting for complete a 4th of yearly tourism flows.

The improved formation web helps support visitant entree to Paphos, while nan government’s tourism strategy intends to lengthen nan tourer play done coordinated readying pinch airlines and circuit operators. These measures are intended to forestall heavy dips successful postulation and to support edifice occupancy during months traditionally associated pinch little demand.

Seasonal challenges and constricted effect of incentives

While a accordant guidelines of 10 500 operating units will remain, nan region still faces emblematic off-season challenges. Reduced visitant numbers, higher inferior costs, and constricted unit readiness proceed to impact profitability. Government schemes that were designed to trim wintertime closures person had constricted effect. Subsidies for edifice heating, taxation offsets, and different reliefs were introduced to promote continuous operation, yet galore establishments still for illustration to region activity during nan lowest-yield months.

The tourism committee has stressed nan value of much effective authorities support. Broader trading successful overseas markets, targeted campaigns promoting wintertime experiences, and deeper practice pinch recreation partners person been recommended. Airlines and circuit operators could beryllium incentivised to support aliases grow wintertime routes, while home tourism could beryllium encouraged done discounts and package deals that make section recreation much appealing to residents of Cyprus.

The way toward year-round tourism

A cardinal semipermanent extremity has been set: to summation nan number of licensed accommodation units operating passim nan twelvemonth to astir 17, 000. That target forms portion of a broader nationalist scheme to create Cyprus arsenic a twelve-month destination. Paphos, arsenic 1 of nan island’s main tourism hubs, plays a cardinal domiciled successful that strategy.

The scheme rests connected respective pillars. First, diversification of tourism products – specified arsenic taste and practice tourism, gastronomy, sports training camps, and wellness retreats – will beryllium utilized to complement nan accepted beach-focused market. Second, improved aerial entree during nan wintertime months will make recreation easier and cheaper. Third, targeted integer trading and partnerships pinch awesome recreation agencies will item nan benefits of visiting Paphos extracurricular nan highest season.

The island’s mild Mediterranean climate, archaeological wealth, and established hospitality infrastructure supply beardown foundations. When mixed pinch accordant promotional effort, these factors tin gradually trim seasonality and thief stabilise employment wrong nan tourism industry.

Implications for travellers

For travellers, nan continuation of operations crossed 10,500 units intends that Paphos will stay an accessible and comfortable destination during nan cooler months. Visitors will brushwood smaller crowds, little prices, and a calmer atmosphere. Activities specified arsenic hiking successful nan Akamas Peninsula, exploring nan Tombs of nan Kings, aliases touring section wineries successful Kathikas and Stroumpi go much enjoyable successful mild weather. Local events and gastronomy festivals often widen into nan winter, giving guests a person look astatine Cypriot civilization beyond nan summertime formation experience.

The off-season ambiance besides benefits long-stay guests, integer nomads, and retirees seeking a warmer European winter. Paphos continues to beryllium promoted arsenic a remote-work-friendly location, pinch improved net infrastructure and affordable medium-term rentals.

Economic value for nan region

For nan section economy, maintaining continuous operations ensures that part-time employment remains disposable and that section suppliers enactment active. Restaurants, taxi services, and unit shops each trust connected tourism flows for revenue. By sustaining 35 per cent of nan full licensed capacity, nan location system keeps circulating income done its work chains alternatively than falling into complete dormancy.

The tourism assemblage remains 1 of nan largest contributors to Cyprus’s gross home product, representing astir 20 per cent of full output. Therefore, moreover a humble hold of activity during debased play tin person measurable effects connected nationalist economical stability. Reducing dense reliance connected summertime months helps equilibrium nan fiscal and employment cycles crossed nan year.

Outlook and conclusion

The wintertime of 2025–2026 is predicted to beryllium unchangeable but difficult. The manufacture is holding its ground, but it is not yet growing, according to nan unchanged operational figure. Converting that stableness into maturation will require accrued marketing, person ties pinch airlines, and calculated authorities assistance.

Paphos is anticipated to proceed to lead Cyprus’s efforts to found existent year-round tourism successful nan agelong run. The area is well-positioned to tie visitors successful each seasons acknowledgment to its pleasant climate, well-developed infrastructure, and ongoing investments successful connectivity. Although it is simply a lofty goal, Paphos could go 1 of nan astir balanced tourism economies successful nan Mediterranean pinch accordant advancement toward nan extremity of having astir 17,000 progressive licensed units.