Paphos People

€300 fine announced for those arriving without filling out flight pass

BE AWARE IF YOU HAVE FAMILY OR FRIENDS ARRIVING..MAKE SURE THEY KNOW

Anyone arriving in Cyprus without having properly filled out the CyprusFlightPass will either have to pay a €300-fine or be sent back, authorities said on Monday.

In its original announcement on Monday the ministry had said the fine was €150, but a corrected announcement issued later in the day increased that to €300.

The transport ministry said that though all passengers are obliged to fill out the form online, some people either fill the forms manually or don’t fill them out at all. It has also been observed that some airlines allow onboard people who have not filled out the online forms, it said.

Therefore, the ministry said, from now on all passengers arriving in Cyprus without having acquired the CyprusFlightPass online or if they present one filled out by hand, will be given two choices: “Either pay a €300 fine or not be allowed entry to the Republic of Cyprus and return back to the country of their departure.”

The new arrangement applies from Monday, July 13.

READ MORE:- https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/07/13/e300-fine-announced-for-those-arriving-without-filling-out-flight-pass/

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Dave
Moira And Dave

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

You can also go to their website and do a quick check to see if they will let you in!

It says you can apply 72 hours before you travel but friends of our could only complete it the day before.

Test us, and we’re not coming say big UK tour operators

Tourism deputy minister Savvas Perdios conceded on Wednesday that Cyprus’ marketing of itself as a safe country which dealt with the coronavirus pandemic well has become a double-edged sword after major UK tour operators said they would not fly to Cyprus if tests are required.
“At least until mid-August, major travel agents will be sending their tourists to destinations which do not require tests,” Perdios told CyBC on Wednesday.

“Travel agents have other options and expectations. Seeing as there are options for them to go to other countries without checks and a test, they prefer the solution which for the time being is easier for them. Having said that, I do not mean that Cyprus needs to follow suit.”

Tour operators Tui and Jet2 announced on Tuesday that they will not fly to Cyprus unless the UK is moved to category A from August 1, meaning British holidaymakers would be allowed on the island without taking or providing a negative coronavirus test.

At present the UK remains in the category C list of countries which cannot fly to Cyprus. From August 1, however, the government is poised to move it into category B which means UK visitors can enter Cyprus but only if they have a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure.

But on Tuesday, it became clear that this was not acceptable to tour operators. It was category A or nothing.

“The volume drivers (Tui and Jet2) announced that they would be rescheduling their UK flights to Cyprus and will not bring flights here until August 15, and only if we put the UK into category A. If we don’t do that, we aren’t going to have any flights with them,” Euripides Loizides, spokesman of the Paphos Hoteliers told the Cyprus Mail on Wednesday.

Tui and Jet2 are the main tour operators for Cyprus, especially Paphos and many hotels are reliant on their custom he said.

Ryanair and other airlines will fly from the UK as it stands, he said, adding that hoteliers are waiting for the official government announcement which will state which countries will be in Category A and B and where the UK will stand.

“But they also said that since saying that the UK will be in category B with a test, they have massive cancellations.”

Reports last week that visitors from category B countries might be offered free tests on arrival at Larnaca and Paphos airports from the beginning of August, subsidised by the government and the hoteliers, have not sweetened the pot.

First, the government has not taken a final decision on this, and second, even if they were to be offered, tour operators say it was not enough of an inducement.

Chairman of the Cyprus travel agents’ association (Acta) Vasilis Stamataris told the Cyprus Mail that travel agents still prefer destinations which simply do not require a test.

“There are a lot of logistics involved. When there is an organised schedule it requires commitments, guarantees, confirmed flights. It is a huge ordeal if upon arrival to Cyprus, someone ends up testing positive.”

Meanwhile, the cost of taking the test in the UK for a family of four prior to their arrival could amount to some €800.

Read more:- https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/07/15/coronavirus-cyprus-safe-place-status-backfiring/

_________________
Dave
Moira And Dave

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

I'm not surprised people are taking this stand. You hear so many stories about 'false positives' as these tests are not the most appropriate for this virus, who would want to come here, have a test that shows positive even though it shouldn't, and have to stay here in virtual quarantine?