“2024 is a year of challenges for tourism,” estimates Philokypros Roussounides, the general manager of PASYXE, stating that the goal is to maintain last year’s levels this year, acknowledging, however, that this is difficult.
Speaking to CNA, the general manager of PASYXE mentioned that in the last month there has been a slowdown compared to the reservations of the corresponding period last year.
“Of course, we consider this to be a combination of events that certainly concern the geopolitical upheavals in the surrounding region, the war in Israel, but also the economic crisis in specific markets of Central Europe,” he noted.
With all these, he continued, our primary goal this year is to come as close as possible to 2023. “We see that available passenger seats are relatively reduced compared to last year, but we do not want to panic markets or our tourism partners,” he added.
He expressed the belief that there will be a stabilization in the tourism sector this season, pointing out, however, that “it seems very difficult for us to reach last year’s numbers.”
Furthermore, Mr. Roussounides noted that “over the last three to four years, the sector has been rocked by many successive crises, pandemics, energy crisis, inflation, increased interest rates, and others, yet it remains close to the numbers of 2019.”
“We hope,” he continued, “to come as close as possible to those numbers in 2024.”
He emphasized that the conditions demonstrate the resilience of the sector, “which we certainly need to support and assist particularly in this year when we will be called upon to provide a high level of services, which relies mainly on the workforce, which we are in great need of, and we hope – as well as the commitments of the Government – we will be assisted on this.”
Asked, Mr. Roussounides mentioned that domestic tourism has historically been a small percentage of the total. “Certainly, it is positive that it increased from 6% and possibly reached a double-digit percentage, it is not something that changes the picture, but it is certainly a healthier tourism model,” he said.
Finally, he stated that it will be another year of challenges. “We evaluate the situation on a daily basis and we will try to bring the year as close as possible to that of 2023,” he concluded.