Paphos is losing €100,000 a week because it does not have the infrastructure to cater for cruise tourism, the president of the Cyprus Institute of Statisticians Chrysanthos Savvides told Phileleftheros newspaper on Monday.
Local stakeholders have long been pressing for a pier for cruise ships at Kato Paphos.
Savvides said that even though Paphos is the island’s leading tourist destination, it is nevertheless the only coastal town without ship docking facilities as well as facilities offering tourists’ safe access to shore.
He said that according to his calculations, if there was an anchorage there would be about 5000 visitors a week. If they spent a minimum of €20 each a day this translates into €100,000 for the town each week.
Savvides queried why Cyprus’ leading tourist town does not have an anchorage at a time when every small Greek island does, adding that it was a priority for Paphos which is an ideal destination because of its antiquities and range of shops and restaurants.
