01/03/2021 09:35
Accommodation and food services plunged while information services recorded significant gains in Cyprus in 2020 reflecting the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing restrictions, according to data released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus, (Cystat).
During the period January-December 2020, decreases relatively to the corresponding period of 2019 were observed in the index of accommodation and food service activities with 56.1% followed by administrative and support service activities with 31,1% and of professional and scientific and technical activities with 10.8%. The sector of Information and communication on the contrary rose by an annual 2.3%.
By division of economic activity, the only area which recorded significant gains in 2020 was the information services, such as web hosting, data processing that rose by an annual 65.3% reflecting the shift to online services due to restrictions and social distancing amidst the Covid pandemic.
On the contrary, travel agency, tour operator reservation service and related activities recorded the heaviest blow, amid the travel restrictions, plunging by an annual 85% in 2020, followed by accommodation services with 79% and services related with motion pictures, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing with 41.2%.
Furthermore, food and beverage services related activity declined by 36% in 2020 reflecting restrictions and lockdown measures as well as the blow in tourist arrivals in Cyprus.