Paphos tourism eyes recovery as officials push quality upgrade for 2026

Paphos tourism officials are hopeful that any losses caused by regional instability will be recovered in the coming months, with rebookings already under way, according to Michalis Mitas, president of the Paphos regional tourism board (Etap).

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), Mitas said that despite the disruption caused by the crisis in the region, Cyprus remained a safe and fully operational tourist destination.

He added that he expected conditions to stabilise in the coming weeks.

Looking ahead to 2026, Mitas said Paphos would focus on improving the quality and long-term sustainability of its tourism offering.

He said the main priorities included diversifying air connectivity, securing more stable year-round flights and further developing thematic tourism.

That, he added, includes sports tourism, wedding tourism, wellness tourism, agrotourism and travel aimed at visitors aged over 55.

At the same time, he said efforts are under way to enrich the visitor experience through eco-routes, walking trails and interactive activities, while also attracting more international sporting and other events.

Mitas said the digital upgrade of the destination and improved accessibility for people with disabilities were also among the key priorities.

He added that this would be accompanied by an assessment of current conditions and targeted planning for the 2026 – 2028 period.

Rural tourism, particularly in the Polis Chrysochous area, also remains part of the strategy, he said.

On the challenges facing the district, Mitas said seasonality remained one of the sector’s main structural weaknesses, despite efforts to contain it.

He added that Paphos tourism also continued to face problems linked to poor public transport, especially between urban centres and rural areas, labour shortages, limited water resources and high operating costs.

In addition, Mitas said inconsistencies in service quality, the limited use of technology by some tourism providers, and ageing hotel and urban infrastructure, particularly in inland areas and Polis Chrysochous, continued to affect the destination’s competitiveness and pointed to the need for coordinated action in the coming years.