There were conflicting views this week on the effect of the crisis in Libya and the rest of the region on Cyprus Tourism.

Cyprus Tourism Organisation chairman Alecos Oroundiotis told the House Finance Committee tha the political upheaval sent a negative message for the whole region, including Cyprus.

He revealed that British tour operators were diverting clients from Egypt to the Canary Islands and not to Cyprus.

Only Polish and Finnish tour operators have so far expressed an interesting in directing their holiday makers to Cyprus.

Oroundiotis told  “at the moment Cyprus has not been affected but we should not be glad about what is happening around us, hoping that to gain more tourists, because this could turn into a boomerang.

“If the situation continues, there is danger in the future that the eastern Mediterranean region will be considered a danger zone, for the moment, this is not the case. We hope and would like to believe that the situation will return to normal.”

On  the other hand, Cyprus Travel Agents Association (ACTA) president Victor Mantovani said this summer bookings for Cyprus were up bas a result of the instability in Arab countries.

“We are seeing a positive trend and an amazing flow of bookings from the moment the unrest started in North Africa (mainly Egypt and Tunisia) from almost all European countries.

“Countries that traditionally send travellers to Egypt and Tunisia are, at this moment, expressing an interest in other destinations, like Spain (which attracts the most), Portugal, Turkey , Greece and Cyprus.

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