“Exact percentages cannot be given at present as we are still in the holiday season, but in general we are satisfied because occupancy is very high for this period,” Loizides told CNA.

Things also looked promising for September and October with high occupancy for both months, he added.

On the winter season, he said: “We expect good occupancy in November but after that, we will have to wait a little longer to see how things develop.”

Loizides noted that mountain resorts were also popular this summer but reservations lagged behind those on the coast.

He said subsidised holiday schemes through social insurance were helpful for hotels in mountain resorts but could not provide high occupancy over a long period.

Expressing confidence that the current record flow of tourists would continue, Loizides cautioned against complacency and making mistakes. “We must continue to be careful not to make mistakes. So far we are doing well, but things can easily change if we start repeating the mistakes of the past,” he warned.

Loizides also referred to a “slow down” in the past fifteen days from the Russian market, but said it was temporary.

This, he believes, is due to the fall of the ruble and the fact that the Turkish market has opened again to Russian tourists.

Source: Cyprus Mail