Cyprus ‘mega fam’ agents reassure clients about destination

More than 80 travel agents on a Cyprus ‘mega fam’ have been reassuring clients that the destination is safe and operating as usual, nearly two months on from a drop in bookings prompted by the Iran war.

The agents, who stayed for three nights at the Constantinou Bros Asimina Suites Hotel in Paphos, said they looked forward to securing bookings for the coming weeks and months.

Julie Crumpton, head of retail at Silver Travel Advisor, said: “I’m doing a video of the whole trip to show everywhere’s still busy, so I can help get people’s confidence back.”

In the week after a drone hit RAF Akrotiri on March 1, causing minimal damage, the Constantinou Bros group recorded a 15% slump in bookings, according to general manager Aristos Diomedous, before its performance gradually improved across the rest of March and April.

“We’re now seeing a lot of late bookings,” said Diomedous. “For July to November, we’re not affected at all. We’re even up year on year.”

Costas Koumis, Cyprus’ deputy minister of tourism, delivered a pre-dinner speech to the agents on the final night of their trip, urging them to continue supporting the destination.

“We wanted to give you the chance to experience how Cyprus is,” he said. “We’re 1,200km away from Iran. Cyprus is not part of this story and it has never been part of the problem. Cyprus has always been a pillar of peace.”

He added: “I’m very optimistic that by the end of the year we’ll have had another successful year and we want to believe the year will be successful for you as travel agents too.

“Please try to inform your clients how safe and beautiful the destination is.”

Reflecting on his last interview with Travel Weekly at the end of March, he said Cyprus’ inbound figures were now “much better”.

“The cancellations have almost stopped and bookings are coming back, but probably not at the same high level we had this time last year, which was the best year ever for Cyprus tourism,” he said.

Alex Babic, sales and marketing director at Constantinou Bros Hotels, said the group hosts about 300 agents in total each year, adding: “They’re our number one distribution channel and we do everything for them. We’re here to assist.”

Many of the visiting agents stayed in the newly built fifth-floor suites at the Asimina Suites Hotel and they also attended a cocktail reception in the new St Andrew’s Rooftop Bar. Both will open to the public on May 2.