Holidaymakers turning back on Cyprus after 'horror change'

Currently, over 30 per cent of tourists to the island are repeat visitors from around Europe, but now many disgruntled travellers are claiming they 'won't be back'.

Holidaymakers are turning their backs on Cyprus after saying there has been a 'horror change' in the country.

Currently, over 30 per cent of tourists to the island are repeat visitors from around Europe, but now many disgruntled travellers are claiming they 'won't be back'.

One holidaymaker vented to the Cyprus Mail about the aggressive sales tactics in Ayia Napa: "Everywhere in Ayia Napa," they said, "there are reps. They get in your face, touch your body..." Another was appalled by the resort's atmosphere: "Ayia Napa was disgusting. Drunk Brits everywhere, even on the beach. The music was so loud we couldn't sleep. And everyone was selling something. I don't really want to come back."

Visitors also complained about the busy beach and the extreme temperatures. A Welsh tourist said: "The beaches are overcrowded," 

A German family added: "The beach showers were broken," Meanwhile, an elderly Slovakian couple lamented, "The water was dirty." Mancunian Harry, aged 28, recounted his surprise at the intense heat: "We looked up the weather before we came," he explains. "But it said Cyprus would be in the mid-30s in July, and we knew that'd be okay because we've been to Spain before and it's the same. What we didn't expect was 40-plus. For days on end."

Harry continued, expressing regret over his beach holiday: "I paid for a beach holiday, so that's what I did," he remarked. "But I'm beginning to think I should have just spent all my time in my room.", reports Birmingham Live. Another tourist reflected on previous trips: "We have been before to Cyprus but not like this. We were not happy even at night, it was too hot. Before, we used to eat by the sea and then go to the town. This time, we only went to the hotel restaurant because it had air conditioning."

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"It's silly to expect anywhere to stay the same," a tourist remarked to the publication, expressing disappointment over Cyprus' transformation, "But the differences are becoming more pronounced with each trip. When I first visited, Cyprus was still a gem. Over the years, it's become the Costa Del Sol overcrowded and over-commercialised." "Everywhere you look, there's a new development going up. Even the mountain villages that used to be so peaceful and authentic are tourist traps now! ".

It comes as Cyprus has admitted that it is facing 'challenges' after experiencing a dip in bookings. The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, told the Express that despite facing 30,000 cancellations earlier this year at a cost the economy of around £30million, the country continues to experience 'remarkable growth' in both visitor numbers and revenue.

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He said: "There is no doubt that the current year is a year full of challenges for the tourism industry worldwide. The financial situation in many European countries, the reduction in the purchasing power of million of households internationally, along with several other challenges have led to stakeholders concerns regarding the performance of the sector, nevertheless the performance of the Cyprus tourism industry remains strong and the sector shows resilience."

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