Cyprus tourism feels the effect of the Iran war

The season has barely begun but Ayia Napa is already sensing a change. Tourists are trickling back and Vassilis Georgiou is overseeing construction of a new ramp for his jetskis after more than 500,000 holidaymakers used his beachside booth last year. He had been betting on another bumper year until last weekend’s US-led offensive against Iran.

“That’s far from certain now,” he said. “It may be early days but I’ve been here since 1992 and suddenly hoteliers are saying bookings are down. People are thinking twice.” No place in Europe is likely to feel the effect more than Cyprus. The tourist-dependent nation, the EU’s nearest member to the Middle East, attracted 4 million visitors last year, a third of them Britons.

A drone launched by pro‑Iranian militia hit the British base of RAF Akrotiri late on Sunday, placing Cyprus in the “risk zone” and prompting the cancellation of many flights. As sirens at the base continued, the British Foreign Office updated its travel advice to say that terrorist attacks could not be ruled out.

Cyprus, Ayia Napa

cyprus tourism, ayia napa, raf akrotiri, iran war, us-led offensive, drone attack, flight cancellations, british tourists, hoteliers, travel advice