Bars and restaurants in tourist areas working at 50 per cent capacity

File photo

Bars, cafés and restaurants that cater primarily to tourists are running at about 50 per cent capacity, and despite a decrease there are calls for them to remain open, they said on Monday.

Head of the association of recreation centres (Osika) Neophytos Thrasyvoulou said that due to the number of flights arriving at the island’s airports – and an expected week of sunshine – the businesses should remain open.

He said most are looking at staying open until the middle or end of November.

He also said the tourism ministry scheme that offers discount hotel stays to the vaccinated, which has recently been extended, has also been “very encouraging”.

A cold spell in mid-October has since given way to a weekend of summer-like sunshine and the island is set for similar sunny weather throughout the week.

Limassol and Larnaca were both set for 30C temperatures on Monday, with tourist hotspot Ayia Napa a pleasant 28C.

As for air travel, Hermes Airports said last week that October has been the best month so far for 2021.

According to Hermes, that runs the Larnaca and Paphos airports, passenger arrivals and departures reached 951,820 last month (619,501 at Larnaca airport and 332,319 in Paphos) compared with 867,097 recorded in August which is usually the month with the most trips.

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