Paphos People

Arrivals from UK possibly next month, and no, Cyprus is not paying for the holiday if people test positive

Arrivals from Britain to Cyprus may be allowed sometime in July, Deputy Tourism Minister Savvas Perdios said on Thursday.

In an interview with Sky News, he said excluding the UK from the list of countries allowed to have visitors to the island was purely an epidemiological decision based on scientific data.

“I expect this will change in the next few weeks as we reevaluate the situation every week,” Perdios said.
The UK is traditionally Cyprus’ biggest source of tourists.

With an improvement in the situation in the UK, there is a very real possibility the country can be included in the category of countries allowed to travel to Cyprus, the minister said. This could take place sometime in July in conjunction with preparations the island is undertaking.

Allowing British tourists to the island may come with a requirement that they have a certificate proving they have tested negative for Covid-19.

Holiday comparison site TravelSupermarket showed that Cyprus was the ninth most popular searched holiday destination for the British in the last two weeks of May. Research from Clickstay, an online holiday rentals platform, shows that holidaymakers have an increased confidence in travelling to Cyprus; in the past week, 21 per cent of page views on Clickstay have been for Cyprus villas and apartments, compared to just 7 per cent for the same period last year.

Meanwhile around 20 airlines have so far included Cyprus in their flight schedules, mainly from July onwards, airport operator Hermes said Thursday. Senior marketing and communications director Maria Kouroupi said some airlines planned to start after June 20 while others, which connect Cyprus with Greece, will start on June 9, the day the government is plans to reopen airports.

“A lot of things will depend on the epidemiological situation both in the airlines’ countries and Cyprus,” she told the Cyprus News Agency. “Many countries still have travel notices in place discouraging their citizens to travel in the summer while others have other restrictions.”

Kouroupi said there was an ongoing evaluation of the situation in all countries and flight schedules would be adjusted accordingly.

Clarifying mixed press reports on tourists arriving to the island, speaking to the Cyprus Mail, Perdios said that reports in British press that the government will cover the holiday costs of tourists on the island if they test positive for the coronavirus are simply not true.

The government will cover the hospitalisation costs of whoever tests positive. Their close family and / or contacts will be taken to a government designated quarantine facility and remain there for 14 days. This will also ensure the hotel at which they were staying would not have to close.

These costs will be covered by the government but any private payments that a tourist may have made or prepaid such as accommodation or flights is up to the individuals to arrange with their travel agent. Perdios clarified this would not be reimbursed and tourists need to take into account that if they test positive, they must quarantine on the island for 14 days, running the risk of missing their return flight.

Rescheduling the flight will be a cost they will undertake themselves and they will not be allowed to return if they have tested positive and the 14 days are not up.

Countries have been classified into categories A or B, a list which will be regularly updated.

As of June 20, countries from category A will not need a health certificate for Covid-19.

Travelers from category B countries are required to have a PCR test certificate at the source country 72 hours prior to travel. If their country is unable to make a PCR testing widely available to the public, , tourists will be subject to a compulsory Covid-19 test upon arrival, at a cost of €60 per person.

Visitors will cover the cost of the test themselves.

Until the test results of their test are ready, tourists will be asked to isolate in their accommodation. Test results are usually available within 24 hours.

https://cyprus-mail.com/2020/06/04/arrivals-from-uk-possibly-next-month-and-no-cyprus-is-not-paying-for-the-holiday-if-people-test-positive/

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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.”

When the airlines start to bring in tourists from other A & B category countries, I will retreat to another voluntary lock-down (until I can see if they bring in more of the virus with them).
Time to restock the pantry & freezers

Everyone I have been in contact with over the past couple of weeks has expressed concern regarding the opening of the airports and all intend to keep a low profile when the tourists arrive and plan to shop and eat locally. Just the two of us so I prefer to do a big shop once a month and top up with fresh produce as required. We were fortunate that everyone acted sensibly and didn't hoard products so hopefully there will always be adequate supplies so there's no need to stockpile.

Thats wonderful news MAD, thanks. The sooner the borders are open the better. Lets try to get back to normality away from this madness. Those who wish to isolate themselves are welcome to do so, let the rest continue.

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Straight talking, no Gimmicks.

Live your dreams.

I agree Tanny the home guard expats selfish attitude of which a few argue is ok for them but a lot of the Cyprus people need to get back to some normality soon for economic reasons there is no Furlough to help these people in these uncertain times, its certainly not for us to tell what they should be doing in there own country, especially as mention they can stay home isolated for weeks freezers full thats helping.

OK - I do not want to pour cold water but there is one issue with this that might put UK tourists off, the government is imposing a 14 day mandatory lock down (self isolation) from anyone entering the UK from overseas and that includes returning UK holiday makers.

The holiday companies over here are up in arms about it and there is nothing they can do to stop it, if you are caught breaking the rules you will be fined £1000 ouch.

I believe that ruling only applies to England

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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.”

Totally agree and anyone who thinks otherwise are quite at liberty to lock themselves away for the rest of their lives, it's not my fault they have been brainwashed by all this appalling negative publicity and tv reports.

I'm expecting relatives from Rep. of Ireland to come and stay with me in my house but I've seen nothing at all about Irish being let in.

We absolutely need tourism ...there are many people and families struggling
Who need the hotels Resteraunts and bars to open for work

To say that we have been brainwashed...I am taking it that you mean every country globally has? As all locked down...they where so frightened and worried

As people in high vulnerability group...we are of course still worried
We have only been out for a meal on our own once since lockdown restrictions lifted

It is worrying that as Cyprus clears ...borders are opening...but they have to open

We will stick with lots of hand washing and wearing masks in supermarkets etc
And we will be watching the figures published daily to see what us happening

For uk flights ...a hard dilemma ...as they try to bring infection rates down...flights obviously right now from the Middle East, Mexico, Brazil etc are on the increase with high infection rates ....though the uk government is looking at the rules being different for safer countries on 14 days quarantine ...so maybe Cyprus as a safe destination will qualify for non quarantining on returns from holidays

We have only been for a drive along the coast and a stop for coffee.
We will continue to watch how many venture into more densely populated areas, and await the results, before rejoining the fray.
It doesn't necessarily need 'brainwashing' to take risks ... but it does take 'brains' to stay safe !

I am fortunate enough to not know anyone or of anyone who has experienced the symptoms, required hospital treatment or died from (or with) Covid-19 and so have been dependent on the information from the Cyprus government and the media throughout the past few months for information.

I certainly feel more confident and happy with the situation as time goes by - unrealistic to stay at 'high alert levels' for a prolonged time and I am certainly easing towards a much more normal lifestyle more quickly than I anticipated when the lockdown began. In fact, not much different to my lifestyle now than it was a few months ago - enjoy meeting friends again, going out for a meal. Tend not to frequent the tourist areas at the height of the season anyway - let the visitors enjoy them!

Covid 19 is a strange disease

The vast majority get little to no symptoms..some feel ill and poorly for weeks ...some are extremely ill and need urgent ICU hospital treatment and some sadly die....
what is absolutely definite ....is that covid 19 is extremely catchy, far more catchy than flu

2 ladies in Peyia have taken 11 weeks to clear the virus from their bodies, they where ill but able to stay at home, so not severe enough for hospital.
My grandson was 2 yrs old when he caught Covid 19 in Spain....he was moderately ill and at times showed worrying symptoms that needed drs consultations , but thankfully needed no hospital care and he is now well again.
My sister who is a cancer survivor in her mid 50,s and in the vulnerable group ..is CEO of some amazing elderly care homes in the uk ..because of her job....she was tested recently for the virus...the test came back negative...she was also tested for antibodies at the same time .....and that came back positive...so she has had the virus and not known about it at all ...it was so mild.
Our friends son 29 years old...fit and athletic ...with no underlying health conditions ...he was in a coma for 7 weeks ...and it will take at least 12 - 18 months to try and rehabilitate him, he has been left so weak and sick.
Kate Garraway ..
I Have followed her husbands dreadful journey ...months in intensive care,,failure of lungs, kidneys and other vital organs ...the virus does not just affect lungs ...it makes your blood sticky and thickening of blood which the virus causes has caused massive problems in people’s kidneys and livers ,..drs have said the damage is so awful...he and many others will never recover..I wish this young man well
My daughters best friends dad, sadly died of Covid 19 he was 56 years old, a fit football coach with no underlying health conditions

The sad conclusion is ...that this disease is an unknown quantity , it attacks in all kinds of different ways. And sadly if you are one of the unlucky ones who get this disease badly ..then your life and health can absolutely be put at risk

We all have to make our own decisions as to how we learn to live with this terrible disease

For us the risks are too great ...so for now ...we will happily live a quiet distanced life style

Yes I listened to Kate Garraway this morning and it really upset me. I do realise that the UK accounts for such a big percentage of Cyprus tourism but I really do not think that now is the time for the UK to visit Cyprus. It is still very dangerous here and if people could only see the devastating impact this has on people who are severely affected they would not think of holidays , perhaps not even in the UK itself! I for one would not dream of even getting on a plane and then risk being isolated for two weeks and two weeks on return
It looks as though Cyprus might have to rely on their great allies the EU to help them out

Cyprus and Greece are working together to encourage tourism from other regions, so it appears they are doing something proactive due to the ongoing situation in the UK.

https://in-cyprus.philenews.com/cyprus- ... s-perdios/

Yes I agree Cyprus appear to much more proactive now re tourism but they are realistic too and the truth is they have major financial problems and they cannot bridge the gap of the very limited tourist numbers.If this was a problem only experienced by Cyprus then the EU would possibly have been able to help more but as every single country is affected I think their help will be limited and nowhere near enough.The EU are demanding 350 million from the UK for the assistance fund but we are refuting that as we would get nowhere near that amount back.They are going to have to learn to live without us .Maybe Cyprus should look to sorting out the tax situation where the majority ( often on the advice of their accountants) are fleecing the country out of millions

When people in the UK ask why you had a second peak of Covid-19 deaths...........

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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.”

Absolutely mindless disregard for not only their own lives and health but everyone else and the NHS
But wey hey ...we can blame good old Boris again for this

Interesting to read the stats for the past month on 'new cases' of Corvid 19 in Cyprus.
85% are from 'repatriated' people.... Repatriated people were required to have a test done no longer than 72 hours before arriving back in Cyprus as per the governments requirements, and all were presumably 'Negative' for Covid 19 or they wouldn't have been allowed in

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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.”

They were nearly all tested when they arrived here as it is generally not possible to get private tests done overseas, particularly if you are working on a 72 hour timeframe, which would explain why the infections were only picked up at this end..

The health ministry on Monday announced six new cases of the coronavirus bringing the total to 970.

Five were from repatriated individuals and one was from a test carried out on private initiative.

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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.”

Parties and dancing in Ayia Napa .... and five flights due in tomorrow ?
Wait for it !!! ... (in the next few days) !

The worry is...that those flying in testing positive ...where they symptom free ?

Yet some people would rather criticise the police for not wearing masks, rather than these virtue signalling morons who are flouting social distancing rules and causing mayhem. But hey let's criticise the police instead. I wouldn't do their job for all the money in the world. The amount of crap they have to deal with is unbelievable.

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And the Oscar goes to........

Absolutely .....full applause for our police officers .....on the front line wearing no masks has got to put them and their families in terrible danger from catching the virus.