Roundup: Tourists migrate to Cyprus after Sinai plane crash

Cyprus is expected to get a tourism windfall this winter as a result of the crash of a Russian plane over the Sinai and the closure of resorts in the Red Sea region, a hotel official said on Thursday.

Haris Loizides, president of the Cyprus Hoteliers Association said that several hotels are extending their operational period to cope with demand by Russian tour operators after the closure of the Sharm el-Sheik area resorts.

He said that Russian travel agencies have added up to 15 flights per week for a period which may last until the end of March.

This may mean up to 20,000 additional tourists following the downing of the Russian plane over the Sinai on October 31, probably by a terrorist bomb, which resulted in the death of 224 people on board.

Loizides said that Russian travel agencies have been making arrangements to redirect a large number of canceled packages to other destinations, such as Cyprus, Turkey and Spain.

He added that Turkey may get the larger portion of these packages, but Cyprus will benefit to a large extend, helping hoteliers to extend the tourist season beyond October and November.

Cyprus has been trying to extend its tourist season beyond November, as tourism contributes over 12 percent in the eastern Mediterranean island's annual economy of about 17.5 billion euros.

Loizides said that the flow of tourists mainly from Russia, will keep several hotels open up to the end of March, when the new tourist season begins.

"No one in Cyprus is glad that it will benefit by the demise of a friendly country such as Egypt, but such being the situation, the extra tourists are a welcome windfall," said Loizides.

He added that hoteliers who had decided not to close for this winter as part of an effort to prolong the tourist season will benefit most as they are fully prepared to receive the tourists.

Egypt has said it stands to lose 280 million U.S. dollars a month after the ban on Russian and British flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, two countries which account for two thirds of foreign visitors to the region.

Cyprus had gone to great lengths to offset a drop in arrivals of tourists from Russia this year as a result of the contraction of the country's economy and the devaluation of the ruble.

It succeeded to a large extend by attracting more tourists from its traditional British market and Germany, notching an increase of about 7 percent in arrivals up to now.

Tourism helped the Cypriot economy to a large extent in returning to growth after 11 consecutive quarters of economic contraction.

The eastern Mediterranean island prepares to exit its 10-billion-euro bailout adjustment program in March next year.

Loizides also said that extra tourists, but on a much smaller scale, are expected from other countries such as Germany and Britain.

"It will take some time before tour operators and travel agents know how many of their clients would like to go to another destination or be refunded," said Loizides. Endit