A postcard from Cyprus

Just Words...

Five years ago, the Cyprus economy was in ruins and its casino banks were the laughing stock of Europe. Fastforward to the where we are now, and it would have been hard to believe that the economy survived a punishing bailout, toxic debt and record high unemployment.

Banks folded, businesses went the wall, ordinary Cypriots lost their savings, wealthy Russians were severely burnt, and Cyprus bonds were worth less than recycled junk.

Austerity washed across the land staining the door of every household while financial pliers were used to pull out the rotting teeth of a toothless economy.

But somehow Cyprus got its bite back and after three years in purgatory it was invited to sit at the top table again – it still can’t afford the lobster steaks, but at least it’s allowed through the door.

Among the ashes of our financial folly Cyprus tourism also took one hell of a beating, the number of tourists dipped, our product was looking shabbier than an Afghan hound with no money around to give it a much-needed shampoo.

Regional competitors were piling them in while Cyprus struggled to get its voice heard among the promotional campaigns.

The island lacked strong air connectivity to European cities, it struggled to crack new markets and it was far from being lauded as a value for money destination.

Cheaper destinations like Turkey, Egypt and Morocco were crushing it while Cyprus was getting sand kicked in its face by the beach life hedonists.

Cyprus was no longer seen as an attractive, sexy, hip destination – it smelt like the inside of an Oxfam shop (no offence) – crusty, dusty and dour but meaning well.

Tourism officials won’t openly admit it, but Cyprus was the unexpected benefactor of regional volatility and religious fundamentalist terror attacks.