The Cyprus Tourism Organisation predicts an increase in tourist arrivals in 2013, according to CTO Director General Marios Hannides.

In statements to CNA, Hannides referred to an increase of 14 thousand passengers who will travel to Cyprus with a specific airline during the summer period.

Hannides assured that no cancellations have been made on tourist packages during the last month, as a result of the economic situation in Cyprus, which has agreed a 10 billion euro bail out with the troika.

“We had no problem with cancellations. No cancellations have been made and our prediction is that we will have more tourists in Cyprus this year, compared to last year”, he said and noted that Easyjet records an increase of 14 thousand passengers from Britain to Cyprus for the summer period.

Replying to another question, Hannides said that compared to 2012, Russia marks the biggest increase in tourists’ arrivals in Cyprus.

He added that the fall in the number of British tourists in 2012 was more than 10%. This decrease has been restrained to 3-4% this year, Hannides pointed out.

On government plans to issue a license for casinos, Hannides said that during the next couple of days the CTO will assign to a firm the updating of the study on the casinos. “This study will show the number of casinos that will be licensed in Cyprus”, he added.

Finally, Hannides said that CTO waits for an answer from the Ministry of Communication and Works on the request for a decrease in landing charges at Hermes Larnaca and Paphos airports.