Covid-19 protocol Cyprus tourist sector
As reported by In Cyprus, a protocol has been drawn up for the Cyprus tourist sector but it does not go anywhere near far enough.
Only in daft form, and needs to be significantly improved, both to give confidence to visitors and to protect the local population.
flights
Wearing of gloves and masks will do little to protect, when packed in like sardines, all breathing the same air for several hours.
Assume an easyJet A320. If one person occupies a seat in row of three no one in row in font or behind or in the aisle opposite, would still not be achieving recommended minimum of 2 metres social distancing
In UK, there is no great desire for lockdown to lift, social distancing will remain for foreseeable future. Few will wish to pass through a busy airport, travel on a crowded plane.
Arrivals and departures should be screened. Anyone with high temperature isolated and quarantined for 14 days.
All aircraft after passengers disembark should be deep cleaned before passengers board. Not as we currently see, fast turn around, a quick tidy of the plane by cabin crew.
Only arrivals from countries free of covid-19 for a month. By acting early, Cyprus has contained covid-19 and kept the number of deaths low. That should not be thrown away in the rush to open up the tourist sector.
Restrictions on entry into Cyprus must also apply to ports, not airports only.
Should Cyprus lift its 14 days quarantine for arrivals at a time when other countries are imposing 14 days quarantine?
UK and Spain will impose a 14 days quarantine for arrivals.
If take a two week holiday in Spain from UK, assuming Spain will even wish to risk visitors from UK, 14 days quarantine in Spain, two week holiday, 14 days quarantine on return to UK.
cruise ships
A glaring omission, no mention of cruise ships. Though Cyprus is currently not a main destination for cruise ships.
Cruise ships are floating environmental disasters, floating all-inclusive hotels that bring no benefit to local economies, floating disease incubators.
Cruise ships should be barred from entering Cypriot waters unless an emergency, not permitted to dock anywhere on the island.
beaches
Sunbeds to be disinfected. How? There is grave risk of environmental damage, contamination of the beach, run off into the sea, destruction of marine life. But yes, sunbeds must be cleaned every evening. Use of the sunbeds, mandatory a beach towel.
Sunbeds must be well spaced apart. This would imply removal of half the sunbeds at crowded beaches, for example sea front at Laranca and Konnos Beach.
There is also an issue of responsibility with Paralimni last year foolishly allowing hotels to commandeer sections of public beaches with their own reserved sunbeds.
accommodation
Guest should not be required to wear masks and gloves when within the hotel.
Nothing on social distancing, spacing tables for dining, spacing sunbeds, no gym sauna Jacuzzi massage, occupancy less than 50%.
Greece will not permit buffet service, nor will tui. Every hotel menu only, table service, even breakfast?
Minimum protocol for all accommodation: Maximum of 50% occupancy, temperature screening every time anyone enters a hotel, strict social distancing within hotel and grounds, tables for dining spaced well apart, sunbeds spaced well apart, sunbeds cleaned every evening, no gym massage sauna Jacuzzi, moot point if pool in use, if in use strict enforcement of numbers, of shower before and after the pool.
Guests encouraged to open balcony doors at night to cool rooms, not rely on air conditioning.
No entertainment as encourages guests to crowd together.
Hoteliers and proprietors required to sign up to protocol before they can open.
Strict enforcement of protocol. Any hotel found to be in breach, closed for the season.
Each resort should have a hotel set aside for quarantine.
restaurants and coffee shops
Not acceptable waiters masks and gloves. If needed should not be open.
Where masks are appropriate, where food is being prepared.
Outside, not indoors, tables well spaced apart, two at a table, four or five maximum if same household.
Printed menu for each set of diners, one time use.
Social distancing maintained at all times.
Bars should not open. Too many people crowded too close together. When bars do open, no live entertainment, including DJs and karaoke, close at midnight, limit to one pint of beer per or equivalent per customer
transport
Buses 50% capacity maximum. This to also include tour buses.
The popular 101/102 bus service Paralimni Protaras Ayia Napa bus service increased frequency of every 5–10 minutes to avoid overcrowding.
Car hire. Only members of same household may share a car. Deep clean at end of each hire.
Beach buggies should not be permitted.
E-scooters and bike shares not permitted to operate.
boat trips
50% occupancy. But it is going to be difficult to maintain social distancing.
EU tourism advice
Open borders to trade and migrant workers, tourists only from countries which have covid-19 under control, no bilateral agreement on tourism such as the one proposed between Cyprus and Greece.
Italy has raised strong objection to bilateral tourism agreements, presumably because few counties would enter into such agreements with Italy, anymore than they would with Spain or UK, due to their high death toll.
Advice only which vassal states are free to ignore which undoubtedly they will.
Countries closed their borders at the outbreak of the pandemic rendering the EU irrelevant.
mass tourism
Where are the visitors to come from?
China? Russia? EU borders closed.
UK? Highest death toll in Europe. Daily death toll several hundred a day, worst in Europe. Lockdown and social distancing for foreseeable future.
Foreign Office advice: no overseas travel indefinite. Expired passports not being renewed. Nigh impossible to obtain travel insurance and will exclude covid-19.
Matt Hancock Health Secretary has said there will be no foreign holidays this summer.
Anyone entering UK 14 days quarantine.
The days of mass tourism are over. It was destroying the planet, spreading coronavirus around the world.
We hear birdsong, streets are traffic free, cities are pollution free.
There can be no return to normal as normal was normal.
End the stranglehold tour companies have on the sector, restrict tour companies to 20% of occupancy, no one tour company more than 10%, payment at the end of the month not end of season. Encourage direct bookings, long stay. No all-inclusive hotels which are killing local economies and bring in the dregs of the tourist industry. Fewer tourists, quality tourists.
Amsterdam with the help of Oxford economist Kate Raworth has developed a post-pandemic recovery programme, Doughnut Economics Amsterdam. A rough draft has been drawn up for Cyprus, Doughnut Economics Cyprus, focusing on the tourist sector.
Tourism has to be sustainable, it has to benefit all of society.
